Hajduk squandered a victory against Istra 1961 at Poljud in the fifth minute of stoppage time (2:2), and coach Gonzalo Garcia admitted that the demanding pace and European commitments are taking a toll on his young players.
Hajduk's footballers secured their first point of the season in the SuperSport HNL, but after the match at Poljud, no one in the Split camp was satisfied. They drew 2:2 against Istra 1961, with victory slipping away in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Coach Gonzalo Garcia was honest in his analysis, admitting that European matches and a congested schedule are taking their toll.
Hajduk took the lead as early as the 15th minute through Rokas Pukštas and looked convincing. After the match, Garcia emphasized that his team had control against a well-organized opponent. "We had control and carried the weight of the game against a very well-organized Istra, especially in their low block. We made it difficult for them, especially after the first goal, and we managed to stop their transitions," Garcia told HRT.
However, a cold shower followed. Frederiksen equalized just before halftime, and although it seemed Marko Livaja would be the hero in the 84th minute and secure three points, Ahmeti set the final score at 2:2 in a dramatic finish. Garcia was particularly critical of the way his team conceded the goals: "We lost some unnecessary balls in dangerous areas and conceded a naive goal from a set piece."
The Hajduk coach did not hide his frustration that dropping points in the final moments is becoming a pattern. "We didn't play brilliantly, but we pushed and looked for the goal. In the end, we conceded again in the last seconds, and that has happened to us several times recently," he admitted.
As the main reason for the drop in concentration and physical issues, Garcia pointed to the exhausting European qualifiers. "European matches certainly affect us, especially due to the great physical effort. We have many young players who are not used to this pace and need to adapt. It often happens that the focus is entirely on European matches, and then in the league you have to be equally concentrated, if not more," explained the Hajduk strategist.
The Split team now faces a crucial return leg against Žalgiris in the Conference League qualifiers. Garcia is clear: the European story is a priority, but the domestic championship must not suffer either. "We have a very important match against Žalgiris ahead of us, and we must finish the job. After that, we will think about Gorica, where we need to get our first win in the league," concluded Garcia, announcing a battle on two fronts.
