Extra-Time Win for Hajduk Sends them to Next Round of Conference League Qualifiers

Hajduk and Azerbaijani club FK Zira met in the return match of the 2nd qualifying round of the Conference League at Poljud on Thursday. The first match ended 1-1, with Anthony Kalik scoring for the Split club.

Poljud welcomed a sell-out tonight, with fans eager to start what hopes to be a promising season for Hajduk.

Lineups

HAJDUK: Ivušić – Karačić, Mlačić, Šarlija, Hrgović – Kalik, Pajaziti, Krovinović, Brajković, Skoko – Livaja

FK ZIRA: Silva – Aliyev, Acka, Ruan, Djibrilla – Ibrahimli, Guima, Gomis – Batibie, Junior, Muratov

Hajduk Split took control of the match early, weathering Zira’s initial pressure before finding their rhythm. After a few half-chances in the opening minutes, the breakthrough came in the 19th minute when Marko Livaja carved through the left and squared the ball to Filip Krovinović, who calmly finished from close range to give Hajduk the 1–0 lead.

That goal sparked Hajduk’s attack as they repeatedly stretched Zira’s defense. Krovinović nearly doubled the advantage after being played in by Kalik, but goalkeeper Silva and his back line came up with a crucial block. Zira’s best moments came on the counter, yet Ivica Ivušić read the danger well. The first half closed with Hajduk still firmly in control.

The second half began with a scare for Hajduk when Aliyev forced Ivušić into a strong save, but the home side quickly regained momentum. Šarlija came inches from doubling the lead when his volley off a set piece hit the post in the 54th minute. Moments later, Livaja drove a solo counterattack from midfield only to be stopped at the last moment. The match took a hit for Hajduk when young defender Mlačić was forced off in the 61st minute, with Diallo coming on in his place.

As Zira pressed for an equalizer, spaces began to open for Hajduk on the break. The game’s intensity rose after the hour mark, with a series of key moments. Hajduk freshened up the attack as Sigur and Durdov replaced Skoko and Brajković.

Then came a major turning point in the 78th minute: Zira midfielder Guima picked up a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving the visitors with ten men.

By the closing stages, Hajduk was still firmly in control. In the 90th minute, Livaja had the chance to finish it himself but opted to pass, and his ball didn’t find a teammate.

Zira immediately countered, but the attack broke down with a foul in the box. Then, heartbreak struck.

In the fourth minute of added time, Djibrila broke free down the left, cut inside, and unleashed a shot that flew off the underside of the crossbar and into the net, stunning the home crowd and making it 1–1.

With the last play of regulation, a Livaja header from a corner nearly restored Hajduk’s lead, but it came to nothing. The referee’s whistle sent the match into extra time, with everything still to play for in Split.

But the heartbreak did not last long. In the 94th minute of extra time, Durdov’s skillful run earned a dangerous free kick from 20 meters out. Benrahou stepped up and delivered, curling a brilliant shot over the wall and into the net to make it 2–1. The stadium erupted as Hajduk once again seized the upper hand.

Hajduk held on to the lead through the second half of extra time, playing possession with no risky balls back to the keeper. The game ended. 2-1 for Hajduk, who will play against Dinamo Tirana in the next round of the Conference League qualifiers.

Varaždin said goodbye to Europe in the 2nd qualifying round of the Conference League, losing to Portuguese club Santa Clara 0-2 in the return match after a great first leg.