Musa on Ilves' Hero: A True Example
Rijeka defeated Ilves 1-0 at Rujevica in the first leg of the Conference League third qualifying round, with the standout performance coming from the visitors' goalkeeper Faris Krkalić.
Rijeka defeated Ilves 1-0 at Rujevica in the first leg of the Conference League third qualifying round, with the standout performance coming from the visitors' goalkeeper Faris Krkalić.
On Thursday, August 6, 2026, Rijeka secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Finnish side Ilves at their Rujevica stadium in the first leg of the Conference League third qualifying round. The only goal of the match came from Niko Janković, who found the back of the net with a precise strike from about 17 meters, giving his team the advantage ahead of the return leg in Tampere.
Despite Rijeka's territorial dominance, especially in the first half, the visitors' net was disturbed only once. The main reason for this was the superb performance of Ilves' goalkeeper, Croatian Faris Krkalić, whose string of excellent saves prevented a more convincing defeat for his team. His display even surprised former footballer Igor Musa.
Igor Musa admitted to Net.hr that he was not familiar with the name of the opposing goalkeeper before the match. "No, and neither did many of us who watched the game on RTL know he was Ilves' keeper. He played brilliantly and saved the visitors from a heavier and bigger defeat, but that's what good goalkeepers are for," said Musa. He highlighted that Krkalić's career trajectory is an inspiration for all players who aren't immediately in the spotlight: "This is a good example for all goalkeepers and all players. If you're at a club and not in the first team, you shouldn't give up; you should believe in yourself and your qualities."
Musa hopes that Krkalić won't repeat a similar performance in the return leg and "spice things up" for Rijeka, but he is aware of his quality. "Faris Krkalić really defended well in this match; he saved his team, but Rijeka played at a satisfactory level, and in the return leg, everything is in their hands," he concluded.
The scorer of the only goal, Niko Janković, despite the win, did not hide that he expected more from his team. "We were dominant throughout the match. We started the game as we should have and created chances, but Faris, my former teammate, was saving everything. I'm not satisfied; we should have had a two-goal lead or more," Janković stated for RTL after the match.
He is aware that a challenging away trip to Finland awaits Rijeka. "I expect a different Ilves there. They play differently at home; they're more dominant. We're going for the win, confident. We're not afraid; we're better," he added confidently. Janković particularly praised the excellent work with coach Matjaž Kek: "We have that winning mentality. We hold back, and up front, someone always scores. The coach is perfect. It's a great honor to play under his guidance."
Commenting on the tactical picture of the match, Igor Musa believes that coach Kek can't be too dissatisfied. "Well, knowing Matjaž Kek's work, when he doesn't concede a goal, I don't believe he's overly disappointed," Musa said for Net.hr. However, he noticed a drop in Rijeka's performance in the second half, which he attributes to the absence of Toni Fruk. "One of the reasons is Fruk's absence; it was clear in the second half that he was greatly missed, especially in the attacking play and breaking down Ilves' defensive lines," Musa analyzed.
Although Rijeka takes the lead into the return leg, Musa warns that the Finns should not be underestimated. "They're not harmless; they're not to be taken lightly. The visitors from Tampere were expectedly very tough and organized, and nothing could shake their game system. The return leg will be a very serious match, and as hosts, they'll probably be even more dangerous." Despite the caution, he is confident in Rijeka's advancement: "I have no doubt that Rijeka will go through and qualify for the Conference League playoff."
The winner of the Rijeka-Ilves tie will face the better team from the Bohemians - Midtjylland clash in the fourth qualifying round.
Reflecting on his role as a commentator and spectator, Musa offered an interesting insight into the difference between watching football from the stands and playing on the pitch. "It's easy to comment from the couch, when you're on the side with a drink and popcorn, but when you're on the pitch, it's much, much harder to execute and pull off. When you're tired and you have so many legs around you, both teammates and opponents, finding the right solution isn't easy," he explained.
When asked if he gets annoyed by people's comments while watching a match, Musa responded with a hint of understanding: "I've gotten used to all sorts of environments and the quality of comments, so I neither approve nor disapprove. People have the right to comment, just as we comment on political and social issues without being experts in that regard."
The former footballer also commented on the other Croatian European appearance that evening. "I didn't watch it, but I saw the result: 5-2 for Hajduk against Žalgiris in the first leg of the Conference League third qualifying round. The result sounds nice. Good on Hajduk for winning that way in a European match. It's pleasing and encouraging for what's to come," Musa said.
