Čepin vs Tomislav Match Recap - Oct 19, 2025

Čepin Hold Tomislav to Scoreless Draw as Underdogs Find Resolve Amid Relegation Fears

In the low, gray October light at Stadion NK Čepin, two teams at opposite ends of the Third NL - Zapad table waged a tense, tactical battle that yielded no goals but left plenty to ponder for both managers. For Čepin, rooted in 15th place and fighting for survival, the 0-0 stalemate represented a flicker of hope—proof that stubborn organization and collective effort can still earn dividends even against loftier opposition. For Tomislav, whose ambitions lie higher up the ladder in fifth place, it was a frustrating afternoon marked by missed chances and the stifling pressure of opponents refusing to yield.

The game’s narrative was defined less by clinical finishing and more by the growing anxiety of the occasion. Tomislav strode onto the pitch as clear favorites, boasting 15 points from 8 matches and a reputation for being difficult to contain on the road. Their hosts, conversely, had suffered through a difficult autumn, winning just twice all season and conceding goals at an alarming rate. Recent results told the story: Čepin were battered 3-1 at Bedem Ivankovo last week, and before that, their last home outing saw a mere 2-0 lightening of mood against Radnički Dalj.

On Sunday, the gulf in the standings seemed to weigh heavily on both sets of players. The first half unfolded in a series of cautious exchanges. Tomislav looked to impose their passing game through midfield, probing for gaps, while Čepin sat deep, compact and disciplined, content to let the visitors circulate the ball in harmless territory. The breakthrough, though, refused to materialize. The first real moment of drama arrived in the 28th minute when Tomislav’s captain surged down the right and whipped in a cross that narrowly evaded a lunging striker at the far post. Čepin’s goalkeeper, alert to the danger, pounced on the loose ball, earning applause from the small but fervent home contingent.

As the match wore on, the home side’s confidence grew. Čepin, realizing Tomislav were struggling to convert possession into genuine opportunities, began to venture forward themselves. In the 54th minute, they won a free kick just outside the area. The ensuing delivery was met by their center-back, whose header thudded against the bar before being scrambled away—a rare surge of adrenaline in a match defined by its defensive certitude.

Yet it was Tomislav who felt most aggrieved by the closing stages. With time ebbing away, the visitors forced a pair of sharp saves from the Čepin keeper: first, a low drive pushed around the post in the 71st minute; then, an instinctive parry from close range as the hosts held on desperately. The visitors appealed for a penalty in the 78th minute, claiming a shirt pull inside the box, but the referee waved play on—one of several contentious moments that fueled frustration on Tomislav’s bench.

No red cards were issued, though the contest threatened to boil over at several points, with hard challenges on both sides and a sense that the stakes were being felt in every duel. For Čepin, the final whistle felt more like a victory than a draw. Their players sank to the turf, spent but unbowed, after securing just their first point in four matches.

For Tomislav, the mood was more somber. Having dispatched Tomislav Cerna 2-0 in their previous match, and showing flashes of attacking intent in earlier games, they will view this as two points dropped in a season where margins for error are slim. The lack of a cutting edge—so evident in their spirited but ultimately fruitless efforts in Kneževi Vinogradi and Marsonia as well—remains a concern.

In the broader context, the draw marginally improves Čepin’s predicament, moving them to 6 points after eight matches, but still locked into 15th place and facing the specter of relegation. Every point now matters, and Sunday’s resilience may serve as a blueprint for battles to come. Tomislav remain fifth, but they risk losing ground on the division’s frontrunners unless they rediscover their scoring touch away from home.

As October deepens and the autumn chill settles over Eastern Croatia, both teams will look to these 90 minutes for lessons. Čepin have earned a morsel of hope where previously there was little—the sort that only organization and unwavering commitment can provide in a dogfight at the bottom. Tomislav, meanwhile, must reckon with the frustration of dominance without reward, knowing the campaign’s ambitions hang on their ability to turn territory into tangible results. For one afternoon, at least, the underdog’s resistance prevailed.