A look back at Hajduk in history.
On this very day 34 years ago, in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, Hajduk defeated Sparta Prague 2:0 in an exceptionally dramatic duel. The victory was decided by a free kick off the boot of Blaž Slišković in the 119th minute, reports Dalmatinski Portal on March 21, 2018.
Sparta’s duel against the Split club was meant to be a turnaround, with hopes they’d put their firm football reputation back on the European scene. In doing so, Sparta spent 26 days on a tour of Central and South America to prepare for this very spectacle, and after winning a tournament in Venezuela, Sparta came to Hajduk with optimism.
The first semifinal game ended 1:0 for Sparta. In front of some 36,000 spectators, Ivan Hašek was awarded a penalty 50 minutes into the game.
For the first match in Prague, Hajduk was dealt a team plagued with cards and could not count on Zlatko and Zoran Vujovic and Branko Miljuš, while Dusan Pešić was injured.
But for the return match at Poljud, Hajduk was welcomed with an incredible atmosphere. Hajduk achieved record-breaking revenues in the history of the club from this very game, and 48,082 tickets were sold.
The people of Split remembered the days when Hajduk was founded, and how Sparta played an essential role because, as a popular European club, they played in Split on July 25 and 26, 1914. For the first time, Hajduk’s administration decided to print posters inviting viewers to the match.
70 years later, on March 21, 1984, the white flags of Poljud came out once again, blowing from all sides of the stadium. Hajduk was determined to make up for Sparta’s first-game advantage from the start, securing a goal already in the 18th minute by Ivan Gudelj. The game, however, went into extra time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v=2O77lxGsIfk
The cunning genius of Blaž Slišković sealed the deal of the match, and with his game-winning goal, a great celebration erupted at Poljud. Hajduk had entered the UEFA Cup semi-finals.
Hajduk – Sparta 2:0
SPLIT, March 21, 1984 – Poljud. 50,000 spectators. Official: Valentine (Scotland). Goals: Gudelj in the 18th and Slišković in the 119th minute.
HAJDUK: Simović, Cukrov, Šušnjara, Gudelj, J. Čop, Rožić, Z. Vulić, Slišković, Jerolimov (Da. Čop), Ćelić, Prekazi.
SPARTA: Olejar, Bielik, Straka, Hašek, Ščasny, Berger, Denk, Chovanec, Griga, Calta (Jarolim), Prohaska (Skuhravy).
