Rijeka beat Hajduk Split 3-0 at the HNK Rijeka Stadium in the Croatian First League, Regular Season round 8 on 20 September 2026. The hosts took all three points in a performance that went against the odds, and here's the thing — we had called for a home win before kick-off with 38 per cent confidence. It came off, and you can see why when you watch how they set up.
Tiago Dantas opened the scoring in the 35th minute, a moment that shifted the momentum. Hajduk thought they were back in it before the break, but S. Vignato struck just after the interval — the ball hit the net in the 45+3rd minute. Then D. Adu Adjei sealed it in the 57th, and the game was effectively over.
What stood out was how Rijeka controlled the tempo despite having less possession. They had 40 per cent against Hajduk's 60, yet created more clear-cut opportunities — four big chances compared to two for the visitors. And by then, the visitors were already looking tired, switching off at the back when it mattered most.
Hajduk had 11 shots to Rijeka's six, but only seven found the target. The statistics tell part of the story — they dominated possession and passed more into the final third, but the home side were sharper in the last third. To be fair, Hajduk had the deeper squad on paper, but tonight the table goes out of the window in these games.
Rijeka's unbeaten run extended to three matches now, while Hajduk's top spot looks less secure after this result. The hosts sit fifth with 14 points from seven games, just two behind the leaders who have played one more game. It was a statement win, the kind that changes how people talk about the season.
There were five substitutions for each side, with coaches looking to manage fatigue in a busy period. I. Cubelic came off for Rijeka in the 65th minute after picking up a yellow card, while Hajduk brought on K. Fayad to add energy in the 82nd. The pattern was clear — both managers felt the pressure as the game progressed.
