Križevci move clear at the top with victory over Inter Zaprešić
Križevci secured a comfortable 3-0 win against Inter Zaprešić in the Second NL on Saturday evening, extending their perfect start to the campaign. The away side had already beaten Varaždin 3-0 in their opening round, and this result moves them firmly into second place on three points from one game. Inter Zaprešić, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom of the table having lost both matches so far — first to Trnjevčani 0-3 and now to Križevci on the same scoreline. By then, you'd expect a team to have found some rhythm, but the pattern was rather different here.
The first half was largely cagey, with neither side creating anything worth remembering. The turning point came late in the contest when Križevci switched on the afterburners. Seven minutes into the second half came the opener, followed quickly by a second goal just a minute later. Inter Zaprešić threw bodies in the way, but the visitors found no answer to the pressure. To be fair, the home side had already been booked three times before then, which told you something about the approach.
The third and decisive goal arrived in the 83rd minute, putting the result beyond doubt. Several more yellow cards followed — Inter Zaprešić received two more in that final period, bringing their total to five for the match. Križevci added one of their own at the 54th minute mark. The away end never stopped, but there was nothing dramatic about the performance, just a clinical execution of what needed to be done.
What matters now is the table. Križevci sit second with three points from one game, while Inter Zaprešić are bottom with none after two defeats. The gap between them is already significant, though it is early days. Križevci had nothing to do all evening in terms of chasing the game — they controlled it from the moment they went ahead. Inter Zaprešić, meanwhile, have not won since their last recorded victory in 2022 against Dinamo Zagreb II.
For Križevci, this is a statement of intent. They beat a team that had already shown vulnerability, and they did it without losing their composure. For Inter Zaprešić, the question is whether they can respond. They played the second half a man up in spirit if not in numbers, but it made no difference. The scoreline tells the story — three goals, five cards, and a result that leaves little room for argument.