Segesta Sisak Upset Leaders Mladost Ždralovi 3-1 in First NL
Segesta Sisak came away with a surprising 3-1 victory over table-toppers Mladost Ždralovi in Round 6 of the First NL on Thursday. The visitors, sitting ninth in the standings, took all three points despite the hosts' dominance in possession and attacking numbers. Mladost had won three and drawn two of their opening five matches to sit on 11 points, while Segesta's record of two wins, one draw and two defeats left them on seven. By then, the result had already shifted the complexion of the early season.
The opening exchanges told the story many expected. Mladost struck first after just six minutes, capitalising on an early opportunity to take the lead. Segesta responded and levelled before half-time with a second goal in the twenty-second minute, though the hosts quickly regained control. The visitors were punished for their naivety when Mladost netted again in the fifty-first minute, a moment that effectively put the game beyond doubt. And here's the thing — once Mladost went ahead 2-1, Segesta's chances of recovery began to slip away.
What followed was a match that grew increasingly physical. Four yellow cards came in the space of twenty minutes between the fifty-first and seventy-second minutes, with Mladost picking up three and Segesta two. The hosts pinned their opponents back for large stretches, accumulating 108 attacks against 102 for the visitors. Yet for all that territorial advantage, Mladost managed only seven shots on target compared to Segesta's three. To be fair, the away side made their opportunities count when it mattered most.
The turning point came late in the game. Segesta pulled one back in the eighty-sixth minute, ending a barren spell and keeping hope alive. Then, in the dying moments of the ninety, they struck twice more — goals in the eighty-sixth and ninetieth minutes completed the comeback. Mladost, who had controlled the game for most of ninety minutes, ended a barren spell of their own in a sense, but not the one they wanted. They handed a debut to disappointment, having lost after leading 2-1.
The statistics tell a story of wasted chances. Mladost held 54 per cent possession and registered six corners, but their seven shots on target yielded just one goal. Segesta, with 46 per cent possession and three shots on target, converted twice. The old head settled them down — not in this case, as Segesta's players simply stayed composed when it counted. Mladost paid for a sloppy opening, giving up the ball and hitting them on the break.
The result leaves Mladost still top of the First NL on 11 points after six games, though their unbeaten run appears to have ended. Segesta move up to eighth place on nine points, having never won since their last defeat. The gap between them narrows to three points, and the table tells a different story now. This was a derby with no love lost, and the visitors proved it.
