Croatia round-up: Zagreb lose first game

NK Zagreb fell to their first defeat of the season on Wednesday night in the Prva HNL in Croatia as NK Slaven Belupo defeated the runaway leaders 2-0 to clinch all three points.

Run ends
Zagreb had won 13 out of their 16 matches this season before the defeat and led second-placed NK Varteks by seven points. But the capital club crashed back down to earth in stunning fashion against the mid-table Koprivnica side. Marijo Osibov gave the visitors the lead with a goal four minutes after the hour mark.

Gaps at the back
As the home side pushed desperately for an equaliser they left huge gaps at the back and Predrag Simic was the beneficiary, adding a second for Belupo in the last minute.

Varteks gain ground
The unlikely result meant Varteks could make significant ground on the leaders if they could seal victory at home to NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac. They did so with consummate ease as goals from Oskar Drobne after 20 minutes, and Veldin Karic, a minute before half-time claimed a comfortable 2-0 win.

Hajduk on form
HNK Hajduk Split maintained their good form to keep pace with the frontrunners after securing a slender 2-1 away win at HNK Rijeka. Srdjan Andric put the visitors 1-0 up with a penalty three minutes after half-time.

Back in the game
The hosts were back in the match four minuets after the hour mark when Andre Mijatovic levelled from another spot-kick.
Andric netted his second of the night though in the 76th minute to seal all three points for Hajduk, who remain a point behind Varteks.

Dinamo win
NK Dinamo Zagreb also won 2-1 against NK Zadarkomerc, a result which means they consolidate fourth place. Damjan Gajser had given the home side the lead with a goal just three minutes into the contest. But Vladimir Petrovic levelled on the stroke of half-time and Igor Cvitanovic grabbed the winner 10 minutes from time.

Šibenik off the bottom
HNK Šibenik moved off the foot of the table after edging a tightly contested match against fellow strugglers NK Osijek 1-0.
Nedo Jovic's goal in the 28th minute proved the only highlight of a dire midfield battle. Elsewhere, HNK Cibalia eased their relegation fears slightly with a 4-3 win over NK Pomorac, while TŠK Topolovac slipped to the bottom of the table after going down 3-1 at home to NK Cakovec and NK Marsonia beat  NK Papuk Kamen Ingrad Venika 1-0.