In a thrilling encounter at Igralište NK Hraščica, Međimurec Pretetinec stunned Graničar Kotoriba with a resounding 5-2 victory on November 2, 2025. This unexpected result not only showcased the home team's resilience but also shook up the standings in Croatia's Third NL - Sjever.
As the match kicked off, both teams entered with contrasting recent forms. Međimurec Pretetinec, sitting in sixth place with 17 points, had suffered a tough loss against Bilogora 91 just days earlier. Meanwhile, Graničar Kotoriba was riding high in third place with 21 points and had just enjoyed an impressive win over Slatina. Expectations seemed clear; given their dominant record and current position in the league, many anticipated a straightforward victory for Graničar. Little did they know that surprises were waiting.
The match started with intensity as both teams pushed forward, but it was Međimurec who struck first. In the 10th minute, their leading striker netted his fourth goal of the season, igniting the home crowd's hope. With added momentum, Međimurec's players rallied around their early success. Just ten minutes later, another goal from Međimurec put them firmly in control.
Despite the setback, Graničar Kotoriba pushed back hard. Their talented playmaker pulled one back with a stunning shot from outside the box shortly after falling behind by two goals. The visitors' response sparked renewed hope and briefly set the stage for a comeback.
However, it was not to be for Graničar. In quick succession toward the end of the first half, Međimurec found their rhythm again and added two more goals to stretch their lead to an astonishing 4-1 as halftime approached. A penalty decision in favor of Međimurec, converted skillfully by another player on their roster, caught fans off guard and left everyone wondering how this might affect future matches.
The second half offered little respite for Graničar Kotoriba, who now faced an uphill battle that quickly became steeper when they conceded yet another goal shortly after re-entering play. Although they managed to sneak in one more goal during injury time-courtesy of a well-timed header-it did little to erase what had transpired over those frantic ninety minutes.
As time expired on what many observers thought would be an easy day for Kotoriba, disappointment hung thickly in the air for their supporters who traveled hoping to witness another impressive display from their team.
This shocking result flips expectations on their head: while Kotoriba remains lodged firmly in third place despite the defeat, Pretetinec climbed past several rivals into fifth-teasing prospects for promotion as they gather momentum moving into subsequent weeks.
Looking ahead, both teams have crucial matches lined up next week that could further impact these standings. Pretetinec will travel to face Graničar Đurđevac while Kotoriba looks to regroup against Polet at home-a match where victory is no longer merely desired but essential if they want to stay within reach of promotion aspirations.
Reflecting on my prediction from last week's preview-it seems I may have miscalculated just how resilient this version of Međimurec Pretetinec truly is after all! What we witnessed today at Hraščica serves as yet another reminder that anything can happen on game day-where grit often outshines statistics and form charts any given Saturday afternoon.