WWin BiH League: Nobles triumphed in the Hercegovina derby

The Hercegovina derby, the 76th in history, rightfully belonged to the Nobles, who celebrated a 3:0 victory tonight in Mostar.

After a home draw against Borac (1:1) and an away win against Željezničar (2:0), Zrinjski continued their derby series with a match against Široki Brijeg, which coach Mario Ivanković’s team handled as desired—claiming their fifth victory in six matches, and the new three points also marked their first ascent to the top of the table.

Since the match was scheduled just three days after their visit to Grbavica, the coaching staff decided to make several changes to the lineup, leaving four starters from the previous match on the bench—Marko Marić, Mario Tičinović, Igor Savić, and Mario Ćuže—while Goran Karačić, Petar Mamić, Antonio Ivančić, and Alen Jurilj were given the opportunity from the first minute.

Zrinjski asserted themselves authoritatively from the start of the match, eager to find the opening goal, which came in the 28th minute when Fran Topić reacted well after a shot from Antonio Ivančić and found the back of the net.

In the second half, Zrinjski patiently broke down their opponent until the end of the match, when two more goals were scored—first, in the 82nd minute, Nardin Mulahusejnović capitalized on confusion in the visiting defense for his sixth goal of the season, and just three minutes later, Hrvoje Barišić also found the net after a cross from Antonio Prskalo.

The Nobles now turn their attention to their fourth consecutive derby, as they face their city rivals Velež away on Saturday.

28′ |  1:0 – Topić

82′ |  2:0 – Mulahusejnović

85′ |  3:0 – Barišić

HŠK Zrinjski: Karačić, Ćorluka, Barišić, Mašić, Mamić (68. Tičinović), Surdanović, Ćavar (85. Prskalo), Ivančić (58. Kozina), Topić (58. Malekinušić), Jurilj (58. Ćuže), Mulahusejnović.

NK Široki Brijeg: T. A. Tomić, Taraba, Senić, P. Stanić, Vučur, Zlomislić (77. Prusina), M. Stanić, Jelavić, Bagarić (62. Ćorić), Iličić (62. Kolarić), Chinedu (62. Lukić).