KOPRIVNICA, Croatia (Interstat) — Istra 1961 defeated Slaven Belupo 2-0 on Friday, turning a tight road match into a two-goal victory with a breakthrough in the 71st minute and a clincher deep in stoppage time. Slaven Belupo hosted the contest, but Istra 1961 controlled the decisive stages and made its chances count while keeping the home side off the scoreboard. The visitors led only after Mohamed Nasraoui found the net, then sealed the result when Isaac scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time. The win gave Istra 1961 a second victory in its competition campaign and extended a useful run of form. Slaven Belupo, which had been seeking a response at home, could not find an equalizing goal before Istra 1961 added late insurance.

The match was scoreless through the first half and remained physical as it moved past the hour mark. Adeshina A. received a yellow card for Slaven Belupo in the 24th minute, and Hrvatin R. was booked for Istra 1961 in the 68th. Slaven Belupo’s Ratshukudu L. was cautioned in the 75th, while Istra 1961 picked up late yellow cards through Momoh M. in the 90+2nd minute and Isaac in the 90+5th. Substitutions began in the 61st minute when Slaven Belupo made a change involving Caimacov M., and Istra 1961 made substitutions involving Jaganjac H. and Skafar Zuzic N. in the 72nd. Ratshukudu L. was involved in a Slaven Belupo substitution in the 77th, Ahmeti D. in an Istra 1961 substitution in the 88th, and Frederiksen E. in an Istra 1961 substitution in the 90+1st. The late changes helped Istra 1961 protect its advantage and see out the closing minutes.

Nasraoui gave Istra 1961 the lead in the 71st minute, finishing a move that had grown more dangerous as the second half wore on. He played the full match and recorded one goal. Emil Frederiksen also played 90 minutes and recorded one assist, helping Istra 1961 create the separation it needed. Isaac, whose statline included 18 minutes, one goal and a yellow card, added the second goal in the 90+4th minute, putting the match out of reach. The goals came after a prolonged stretch in which Slaven Belupo could not convert its home advantage into a goal. Istra 1961’s finishing proved decisive in a match that had remained scoreless for more than an hour.

The result shaped both clubs’ records in the competition. Istra 1961’s season record in this competition is now 2 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, and its season record across all competitions is also 2 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw. Slaven Belupo’s season record in this competition is now 2 wins and 2 losses, with the same record across all competitions. Istra 1961 entered the match after a draw with Hajduk Split, a loss at Lok. Zagreb and a win at Osijek in its previous competition outings, while Slaven Belupo had beaten Varazdin, lost to Din. Zagreb and beaten Rijeka in its prior matches. The visitors’ second-half goal changed the shape of the contest, and Slaven Belupo’s search for a response left space for Istra 1961 to add the second goal in stoppage time. The visitors finished the stronger of the two sides in the closing stages.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Istra 1961 3, Slaven Belupo 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Istra 1961 with an 85.9 percent probability to win. Slaven Belupo had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.25. The total score of 2 went over the over/under line of 2.75.