Sesvete vs Hrvace Match Recap - Oct 17, 2025

Sesvete Hold Off Hrvace in Four-Goal Thriller, Maintain Third Place As Promotion Race Intensifies

On a damp October afternoon at Stadion sv. Josip Radnik, Sesvete and Hrvace staged a contest that never settled—and never let up, trading blows and trading points as both clubs grapple for standing in Croatia’s fiercely competitive First NL. When the final whistle cut through the waning daylight, the 2-2 scoreline spoke not only to the balance of play but to the ambitions and anxieties that haunt both sides at this pivotal juncture of the season.

From the outset, the match pulsed with urgency. Sesvete, perched third in the league and eager to cement their promotion credentials, sought to impose their rhythm on a Hrvace side positioned eighth but fresh off a rousing 3-0 home victory that hinted at latent firepower. Both clubs entered the day with a hunger: Sesvete eyeing the top two, Hrvace desperate to lift themselves from mid-table anonymity.

The drama ignited in the 29th minute. Hrvace, often content to play on the counter, carved open Sesvete’s back line with precision—a fast break culminating in the opener that drew murmurs from the home crowd. The goal, converted after a sweeping move through midfield, was all the more stunning for its timing, as Hrvace had spent much of the opening half weathering Sesvete’s attacks.

Yet resilience has defined Sesvete’s campaign, and their response was nearly immediate. Six minutes after conceding, in the 35th, the home side capitalized on a scramble at the edge of the area, finding their equalizer with a sharp finish that restored parity and momentum. The goal electrified the stands, but the half closed with both teams sensing unfinished business.

No sooner had the second half begun than Hrvace again seized the initiative. Three minutes after the restart, in the 48th, a patient buildup from the visitors undid Sesvete’s defensive line—Hrvace’s forward stroking home a cool finish that revived memories of their attacking potency in last week’s rout of Opatija. But again, Sesvete steeled themselves, refusing to wilt. In the 51st minute, their pressure paid off: a set piece delivered into the heart of Hrvace’s box led to the leveller, a headed effort that sent celebrations rippling through the crowd.

As minutes bled away, tensions mounted, both benches aware of the stakes. Sesvete’s recent home form—four wins and five draws in ten matches, with only one defeat—has been their bulwark. Today, that refusal to buckle proved decisive again. Hrvace, for their part, looked revitalized since the turn of October, having shaken off September’s uneven run and now claiming seven points from their last three matches. The draw, while less than the visitors hoped for, extends a run that has seen them climb towards the pack.

What made this draw striking was not only the scoring swings but the underlying context. These two sides, rarely separated by more than a goal in previous encounters, now appear as foils in the season's larger drama: Sesvete, situated third with 17 points from ten games, must ward off the chasing pack, their margin for error narrowing as Karlovac, Rudes, and others loom just ahead in the promotion battle. Hrvace, now on 13 points, remain eighth but clearly possess the momentum to trouble those above, especially with their offense rediscovering its rhythm in recent outings.

Neither side escaped the afternoon unscathed—Hrvace lost a midfielder to a late knock, and Sesvete saw their captain booked for dissent amid the game’s heated closing stages. Yet discipline largely held as both teams pressed for a late winner, only to be denied by a mixture of desperate defending and nervous finishing.

For Sesvete, the draw is both relief and warning: their unbeaten streak extends to six matches, but dropped points at home, especially from behind twice, may fester as autumn deepens and the margins for promotion tighten. Their ability to respond instantly to setbacks—twice in this match—remains their greatest asset, but tougher tests await.

Hrvace, meanwhile, will feel emboldened. Their resurgence since early October now includes two wins and a draw in their last three; the side that once stumbled in September now looks capable of troubling any opponent in the division. To climb further, though, they must convert these draws into victories, especially away from home, where their resolve was tested and found equal today.

As both clubs turn toward the next round, the stakes rise. Sesvete’s pursuit of the top two demands precision and focus in every fixture, while Hrvace’s quest to crash the promotion conversation means wrestling points from rivals, home and away. If today was any indication, neither side intends to blink. The battle resumes next week—and in Croatia’s First NL, the margins remain as thin as ever.