HAŠK vs Inker Match Recap - Oct 19, 2025

HAŠK’s Last-Gasp Salvage Denies Inker Fourth Straight Win in a Spirited Third NL Standoff

A brisk autumn morning at ŠRC Peščenica produced the kind of drama that the Third NL thrives upon, as HAŠK and Inker battled to a fiercely contested 2-2 draw, with the hosts snatching a crucial point in the dying minutes. After weeks of frustration, HAŠK’s ability to claw back from behind—twice—offered a glimpse of resilience, while Inker’s streak of victories was checked just as the club appeared poised to break into the league’s top echelon.

The match opened with a sense of urgency from both sides, each aware of the stakes. For HAŠK, recent form had cast a shadow: two consecutive league defeats, including a dispiriting 1-2 loss to Vrapče Zagreb, left them languishing near the wrong end of the table. The visitors, meanwhile, arrived brimming with confidence, having dispatched Dinamo OO 5-1 and edged Samobor 2-1 in their previous outings, moving within touching distance of the league’s summit.

From kickoff, the tension was palpable. Inker wasted little time asserting themselves. Their midfield dictated the early tempo, and the breakthrough came midway through the first stanza. A slick exchange between Inker’s attacking duo culminated in a clinical finish—Inker’s top scorer, surging into the box, buried a low shot past HAŠK’s keeper, marking his fourth goal in three games. The away bench erupted, sensing another triumph in the making.

HAŠK, spurred by the home crowd, responded with renewed vigor. Their captain, a tireless presence in midfield, began orchestrating attacks with precision. Just before the half, a corner swung in from the right found HAŠK’s center back rising highest; his thumping header leveled the score, the stadium pulsing with relief and hope.

If the first half was about settling scores, the second half was all nerves and ambition. Inker regained their lead soon after the restart, capitalizing on HAŠK’s defensive lapse. A misjudged clearance fell to Inker’s winger, who rifled the ball into the roof of the net. The hosts appealed for offside, but the referee was unmoved. With the score at 2-1 and time ebbing away, Inker adopted a pragmatic approach, tightening defensively and seeking to absorb HAŠK’s pressure.

Yet, the story was far from written. As full time loomed, fatigue and desperation coalesced for HAŠK. Inker, who had not conceded more than one goal in their previous three victories, now found themselves besieged. HAŠK’s attacking substitutions paid dividends when, in the 89th minute, a darting run down the flank drew a reckless challenge inside the box. The referee pointed to the spot—a moment of reckoning. HAŠK’s striker stepped up, nerves steadied, and calmly slotted the penalty past a wrong-footed keeper. The equalizer sent the home support into raptures.

Both teams pressed for a winner in stoppage time, but neither managed to break through. The final whistle brought a sense of justice to a frenetic encounter—a result that reflected the ebbs and flows of the match but left both managers pondering missed opportunities.

For HAŠK, the draw ends their run of defeats and brings a valuable point in their battle to escape the lower reaches of the standings. The fighting spirit on display—twice coming from behind—may be their blueprint for the challenging fixtures ahead. Their defensive frailties remain a concern but, on this morning, resolve trumped reputation.

Inker, on the other hand, will rue the lapses that allowed the hosts back into contention. Still, the point extends their unbeaten run to four matches and keeps them within striking distance of the league’s leading pack. The visitors’ attacking prowess was evident, but the inability to close out the contest underscores the thin margins atop the Third NL.

Recent head-to-head clashes have often been tense, with draws and narrow victories the norm—a tradition continued this morning at ŠRC Peščenica. As the league table tightens, every result takes on added significance; for HAŠK, survival remains the imperative, while Inker have eyes on promotion but must navigate the pitfalls of complacency.

As October’s chill settles on Zagreb, both teams leave the pitch with lessons learned and ambitions undiminished. For HAŠK, the hope is that today’s fight marks a turning point. For Inker, the message is clear: in this league, comfort is fleeting and momentum must be earned anew each week.