Sesvete — HNK Cibalia: 1:2, First NL

Cibalia took three points on the road in the Prva NL as they beat Sesvete 2:1 on Thursday evening. The visitors had already had the game won inside twenty minutes before the hosts could find a way back into the contest. Laganić was the man to watch, scoring twice in the opening half to take his side ahead.

The first came in the twelfth minute from the striker, who showed good movement to finish. Just three minutes later Cibalia doubled their advantage, though the scorer was not recorded in the match sheet. Sesvete pulled one back in the twenty-seventh minute, but by then the visitors were holding the tie in their own hands. The yellow cards accumulated in the second half without changing the outcome.

It was a curious match on the numbers. Sesvete kept 57 per cent of possession and registered 80 attacks, yet they managed only two shots on target. Cibalia, with 43 per cent possession, produced three shots on target and nine in total. The visitors also completed 96 attacks compared to the hosts' 80, which suggests they were more direct when it mattered.

The result leaves Sesvete in fourth place on nine points from five games, while Cibalia sit seventh with seven points. The away side remain unbeaten through five matches and have now drawn four of their last five. Sesvete's two defeats so far have come against tougher opposition, but this one was different.