Istra 1961 battled back from a two-goal deficit to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against league leaders Hajduk Split in the SuperSport HNL, halting the visitors’ momentum at the Aldo Drosini Stadium in Pula. Khalil Fayad and Michele Šego staked Hajduk to a comfortable 2-0 lead before manager Javier Cabello introduced a triple substitution on the hour mark that completely shifted the contest. Hamza Jaganjac halved the deficit in the 66th minute, and Emil Frederiksen converted an 81st-minute penalty kick to salvage a point for the hosts.
A Chaotic Opening on the Drosini Turf
The match exploded into life within the opening 20 seconds when Istra’s Emil Frederiksen fired a shot that Hajduk defender Dario Marešić cleared off the goalline. Just minutes later, Marešić made his presence felt at the opposite end of the pitch. During a 7th-minute corner kick, the former Istra captain headed a loose ball back into the danger area where Khalil Fayad met it with an acrobatic overhead kick, beating goalkeeper Franko Kolić to open the scoring for the visitors.
Marin Šotiček and Dalisson both threatened to double the lead before halftime, forcing sharp saves from Kolić as the visitors controlled the tempo in Pula.
Fayad Extends the Lead Before the Turning Point
Any hopes of an immediate Istra recovery in the second half were dashed in the 54th minute. Fayad tore down the left flank on a brilliant solo run, delivering a low, driven cross across the face of goal that team captain Michele Šego tapped in from close range to make it 2-0.
🚨 HAJDUK BOTTLE A TWO-GOAL LEAD IN PULA!A 10/10 second half at the Aldo Drosina sees Istra come back from 2-0 down! pic.twitter.com/JTWLwp8F6N
Trailing by two goals, Istra manager Javier Cabello turned to his bench in the 60th minute, introducing Dukan Ahmeti, Škafar Žužić, and Leon Kablar. The triple change injected immediate pace and energy into the green-and-yellow attack, overwhelming a Hajduk side that had dominated the opening hour.
The Young Substitutes Spark the Comeback
The tactical shift bore fruit immediately in the 66th minute. Škafar Žužić helped engineer a slick right-sided move, feeding Frederiksen, who played a precise square pass into the path of Hamza Jaganjac. The forward struck it first-time into the near corner past Toni Silić to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Play was temporarily suspended in the 72nd minute as thick smoke from flares ignited by visiting supporters on the southern stand drifted across the pitch. Once action resumed, Istra kept up the pressure. In the 79th minute, substitute Roko Gabrić pulled down Istra’s Ali Nasraoui inside the box during a corner kick, prompting referee Kolarić to immediately point to the penalty spot.
Frederiksen Converts from the Spot to Share the Spoils
Emil Frederiksen stepped up to take the 81st-minute penalty and drove his shot past Silić, leveling the score at 2-2. The equalizer sent the home supporters into raptures as Istra continued to chase a winner in the closing stages. Hajduk substitute Adam Huram managed a late effort from the edge of the 16-yard box in the 85th minute, but his shot drifted narrowly wide of the post.
The draw leaves Hajduk atop the league standings with 23 points from 11 matches, holding a four-point advantage over second-placed Dinamo Zagreb, though having played two matches more. Istra 1961 sits in sixth place with 13 points, level with seventh-placed Slaven Belupo.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Match
What was the final score between Istra 1961 and Hajduk Split?
The match ended in a 2-2 draw at the Aldo Drosini Stadium in Pula, matching the scoreline from their previous encounter earlier in the season.
⚽️ISTRA 1961 – HAJDUK 0:2 – Krasan gol Pajazitija u same rašlje za povećanje prednosti. #hnl #shnl #supersporthnl #istra #hajduk pic.twitter.com/hOfMalB0he
Who scored the goals for each team?
Hajduk took a 2-0 lead through goals from Khalil Fayad in the 7th minute and Michele Šego in the 54th minute. Istra responded with a 66th-minute goal from Hamza Jaganjac and an 81st-minute penalty converted by Emil Frederiksen.
Where do Istra 1961 and Hajduk currently stand in the league table?
Following the 11th-round fixture, Hajduk remains at the top of the SuperSport HNL standings with 23 points, while Istra 1961 occupies sixth place with 13 points.
🎙️ Gonzalo Garcia on Hajduk’s 2-2 draw against Istra 1961:“It was a tough but good match. Istra showed at the start that they could be dangerous, but after that, we took control of the game. We created chances and had everything in our hands for more than an hour. Istra… https://t.co/Lb0UtXdTcx pic.twitter.com/TRsCoaUf5x”
Half-time in Pula!Istra (0.22) 0-1 (0.51) HajdukFirst 10 minutes were wild, but Hajduk have been dominating since then. Pressing Istra into mistakes but unable to double their lead. pic.twitter.com/iNdy9i8JxK
