RIJEKA, Croatia (Interstat) — Toni Fruk scored twice in the ninth minute and Daniel Adu-Adjei added a late insurance goal to power Rijeka to a 3-0 victory over Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Friday at Stadion HNK Rijeka.

The match, an early Group F fixture in Europe’s second-tier club competition, was effectively decided in a stunning opening flurry from the Croatian side. Fruk first found the net with a low drive from the edge of the penalty area, capitalizing on a disorganized Sparta Prague defense. Before the visitors could regroup, Fruk struck again just moments later, doubling the lead and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Sparta Prague, a dominant force in the Czech domestic league this season, was left reeling and struggled to mount a meaningful response in the first half. The visitors’ frustration began to show as they picked up the first two yellow cards of the match. Sivert Mannsverk was cautioned in the 35th minute for a reckless challenge, followed by Asger Sørensen in the 47th for a tactical foul.

The second half saw Sparta Prague attempt to increase pressure, but Rijeka’s defense held firm. The physical nature of the contest intensified, resulting in five more yellow cards being issued in a 20-minute span. Rijeka’s Ante Oreč was booked in the 71st minute, and Sparta Prague’s Ángelo Preciado followed two minutes later.

Any lingering hope for a Sparta Prague comeback was extinguished in the 75th minute when Daniel Adu-Adjei sealed the victory for Rijeka, finishing a swift counter-attack to make the score 3-0. The goal prompted further ill-discipline from the visitors, with Adam Sevinsky and Jan Kuchta receiving late cautions. Rijeka’s Dejan Petrovič was also shown a yellow card during the fractious closing stages.

The result was a significant upset based on pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 1-1 draw, and its ELO rating system gave Rijeka only a 54.40 percent probability of winning. The comprehensive victory provides a vital boost for Rijeka after a mixed start to their season across all competitions, where they now hold a record of 5 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws.

For Sparta Prague, the loss is a rare blemish in an otherwise strong campaign. They entered the match with an impressive overall record of 12 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws. Their recent form included a 2-1 league win over Viktoria Plzen, but they have now suffered consecutive European setbacks following a 1-0 loss to Riga in late August.

Both teams now hold a record of 0 wins and 1 loss in the Europa League group stage. Rijeka will look to build on the momentum from this victory when they continue their European campaign on the road against Lincoln Red Imps on Nov. 6. Sparta Prague must regroup quickly as they seek their first points in the competition.