Keeper paves way for cup win

Goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa opened the scoring for HNK Hajduk Split as they beat NK Uljanik Pula from the second division 4-0 in the second leg of their Croatian Cup final to record a 5-0 aggregate success.

Over by half-time
The success, Hajduk's fourth in the competition after Croatia became an independent country, was never in doubt after they established a 3-0 lead by half-time. Croatian international Pletikosa was the surprise scorer of the first, converting a penalty in the 19th minute. Another Croatia player, Milan Rapaic, made it 2-0 eight minutes later, capitalising on a keeping error by Sinisa Caleta.

Deranja completes scoring
Almir Turkovic struck the third goal in the 36th minute and at that point Pula, the first second division side to reach the Croatian Cup final, were staring at a heavy defeat. However, that failed to materialise as Hajduk scored just one more time after the break, Zvonimir Deranja the man on target eight minutes from time.

European qualification
After Hajduk finished second in the league and won the cup, NK Kamen Ingrad Velika, who are from the small eastern Croatian town of Velika, qualify for the UEFA Cup, along with NK Varteks, who finished third. The league winners, NK Dinamo Zagreb, will enter the UEFA Champions League at the second qualifying round stage.