Lokomotiva defeated Gorica 3:1 in the second round of the SuperSport HNL, jumping to second place with a maximum of six points, with the match highlighted by the debut and goal of talented Noel Đuković.
Lokomotiva's footballers continued their excellent start to the new SuperSport HNL season. In the match of the 2nd round played on August 9, 2026, at the Maksimir stadium, coach Nikica Jelavić's team defeated Gorica 3:1, thus recording their second league victory.
Lokomotiva took the lead with a goal from Mirko Marić, and the advantage was doubled by an own goal from Gorica's player Ante Kavelj. The visitors got back into the game with a goal from Bruno Bogojević, so the final minutes were entered with an uncertain 2:1. Just then, in stoppage time, coach Jelavić decided to pull captain and midfielder Matija Subotić and give a chance to a debutant.
Noel Đuković, a talented footballer born in 2006, came onto the pitch. It took him only half a minute to leave an indelible mark. In the 94th minute, after pressing Gorica's defense and winning the ball, Đuković received the ball from Dušan Vuković about twenty meters from goal. He brilliantly shifted it onto his left foot, shook off his marker, and with a precise shot found the bottom corner for the final 3:1.
Last season, Đuković shone in the jersey of Kustošija, Andy Bara's club, where he helped with 10 goals in winning the Second NL. Before that, at the beginning of the 2022/23 season, he moved to Vukovar's youth academy, having grown up as a product of Osijek's youth system.
Despite the defeat, Gorica's coach Mario Carević was not dissatisfied with his team's approach. "I hate losing, I can't be satisfied, but I can't be angry at the players," Carević stated for 01Portal, indicating that his team put up a good fight against the favored hosts.
With this victory, Lokomotiva temporarily climbed to second place with a maximum of six points, while Gorica remains at the bottom after two rounds.
