STROVOLOS, Cyprus (Interstat) — A late goal from substitute Daniel Adu-Adjei defied both the hostile atmosphere and pregame projections, lifting Croatian side Rijeka to a narrow 1-0 victory over AS Omonoia Leukosias in Europa League play on Thursday afternoon at a packed Neo GSP Stadium.

The match, a preliminary round encounter in Europe’s secondary club competition, was largely characterized by disciplined defensive structures and midfield friction, with the decisive moment arriving deep into the second half. Despite being heavily favored by statistical models, Rijeka struggled to break down a resolute Omonoia side for much of the contest before their bench made the critical difference.

The game’s tempo was frequently interrupted by a flurry of cautions, with referee Matej Jug issuing seven yellow cards before the hour mark. Omonoia’s Panayiotis Andreou was booked in the 37th minute for a tactical foul, quickly followed by a caution for Rijeka substitute Merveil Ndockyt just two minutes after his introduction. Teammates Andreas Christou of Omonoia and Téo Barisic of Rijeka also saw yellow in a contentious first half that yielded few clear chances for either side.

As the match progressed, the physical intensity only increased. Omonoia, spurred on by a vocal home crowd, pressed for an opening but found Rijeka’s defense organized and difficult to penetrate. The visitors, meanwhile, began to find more space as the game stretched, with their trio of second-half substitutes ultimately combining to break the deadlock.

The breakthrough came in the 86th minute. After sustained pressure, Rijeka worked the ball to Ndockyt on the right flank. His driven cross was deftly flicked on at the near post by fellow substitute Téo Barisic, finding Adu-Adjei unmarked at the back post. The Ghanaian forward made no mistake, steering his finish past the Omonoia goalkeeper to stun the home supporters.

The goal ignited a frantic finale. Omonoia’s Giannis Masouras was booked for dissent immediately after the restart, and the frustration boiled over just two minutes later. Rijeka substitute Tornike Morchiladze, who had been cautioned in the 79th minute, received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge in the 89th minute, reducing his side to 10 men for the dying moments.

Despite the numerical disadvantage and nearly seven minutes of stoppage time, Rijeka’s defense held firm under a barrage of Omonoia crosses and set pieces to secure a valuable away victory. The result marked a successful start to Rijeka’s European campaign this season, improving their record across all competitions to one win and no losses. For Omonoia, the defeat was a harsh lesson in efficiency, as they failed to capitalize on their periods of dominance and the late sending off, beginning their season with a loss.

The outcome proved contrary to several pregame forecasts. A widely cited game simulator from Interstat had projected a 2-1 victory for the Cypriot hosts. Furthermore, the same service’s ELO rating system had given Rijeka an overwhelming 84.1 percent probability to win, a figure that seemed at odds with the evenly-matched, gritty contest that unfolded on the pitch.

Rijeka will look to build on this result in the second leg, while Omonoia faces a significant challenge to overturn the deficit on the road. The victory provides Rijeka with a crucial advantage and a vital away goal as the tie heads back to Croatia.