In the first round of the HNL, the Silić brothers faced off on opposite sides, with older brother Josip becoming the hero by saving Marko Livaja's spot-kick in the 90th minute. Hajduk coach Gonzalo Garcia was highly dissatisfied with his team's first-half performance, while refereeing expert Goran Tenžera sharply criticized referee Patrik Kolarić.
Varaždin's footballers defeated Hajduk 2:1 in the first round of the HNL, played on August 2, 2026. The hosts secured the win with goals from Mario Mladenovski in the 53rd minute and Luka Mamić in the 62nd, while the visitors' only goal came from Rokas Pukštas in the 56th minute. The drama in stoppage time was concluded by Varaždin goalkeeper Josip Silić, who saved Marko Livaja's penalty.
The match was also marked by a family duel in goal. Older brother Josip Silić guarded the net for Varaždin, while younger brother Toni Silić did the same for Hajduk. It was the older sibling who emerged as the hero of the match by stopping Livaja's spot-kick in the 90th minute, sparking intense emotions.
Josip Silić did not hide his delight after the match. "First and foremost, it's a great honor to have saved a penalty from Marko Livaja, an icon of Hajduk and the entire city of Split, both as a player and a person. The day before, we analyzed his penalties, and based on his run-up, I decided to go to my right. I threw myself to my right, got there, and made the save," Josip Silić told Sportske novosti.
He also reflected on the difficult period following Varaždin's European elimination by Jablonec. "After the elimination by Jablonec, where we had an emotional drain and went out after four set-piece goals, we agreed to try to rise above it. I think we fulfilled everything we agreed on. We limited Hajduk. We had the initiative," he added.
On his relationship with his brother on the pitch, he was clear: "My brother is on the other side; it was an emotional match, I can't say anything much smarter. On the pitch, we each play for our own team, but we're brothers, we share the same blood, we'd give everything for each other, but on the pitch we fight for the colors of our club."
On the other side, younger brother Toni Silić did not hide his disappointment after the defeat. "We entered the first half without energy. At halftime, we agreed to come out with more of what we are. They scored from set pieces and individual errors. We wanted to wash away the bitter taste after Pafos, but unfortunately we didn't succeed," Toni Silić told Sportske novosti.
He also touched on the European debacle that left its mark. "That match left a mark on us, but it's far behind us now; we have to prove ourselves every match. Now the taste is even worse." On the possibility of scoring against his brother in the closing stages, he briefly said: "You have to defend the colors of your club."
Hajduk now turns its focus to the next European opponent. "Žalgiris? We'll analyze the match; tomorrow we prepare for them. We must win and return to Poljud with a positive result," concluded Toni Silić.
Hajduk coach Gonzalo Garcia did not mince words when describing his team's first-half performance. "The first half was terrible; we were slow and sluggish. We created nothing; we entered the match slowly. But in the second half, we controlled the game and created chances; based on that performance, we didn't deserve this result. I'm satisfied with that part, even though we conceded stupid goals," Garcia told HRT, as reported by Narod.hr.
He also explained Niko Sigur's absence from the match sheet. "He felt something in his groin. It's not an injury, but we didn't want to take risks."
Garcia also pointed to squad issues. "Yes, we lack energy and creativity. The players are heavy. We've had two long trips, and we have to use many players in unnatural positions. We only have one winger, and the other is injured, so I'm putting Melnjak and Šego in positions that aren't theirs."
He confirmed that the club is working on bringing in reinforcements. "The club is working on it, but it's not easy. Some have left, so space has opened up, and we also have injuries." He also praised Šotiček's brief appearance: "I couldn't start him, but I'm satisfied with what he played."
Patrik Kolarić's officiating drew sharp criticism from former top-flight referee Goran Tenžera. In an analysis for Dalmatinski portal, as reported by Tportal, Tenžera claimed the referee had an inconsistent criterion and made several key errors.
"Kolarić didn't officiate this match well. He was particularly unconvincing in assessing fouls, and it all culminated in the 87th minute when he didn't award an obvious penalty for Hajduk; instead, he showed Bambi a yellow card for alleged simulation. The Varaždin player entered his path with his right foot and brought him down without playing the ball. After a call from the VAR room, he reviewed the footage for a long time, even though the situation was clear," said Tenžera.
He also criticized a series of other decisions. "In the 31st minute, Marina carelessly went into Del Moral with his body, and a foul was given for Varaždin. The foul by Maglica on Šotiček in the 47th minute, which earned him a yellow card, was also unconvincing. Earlier, he too easily cautioned Pajaziti for an accidental hand contact in the head area. On the other hand, in the 85th minute, Mladenovski struck Pukštas in the head with a high foot and didn't receive a card. That shows a very problematic criterion."
Tenžera also highlighted situations that directly affected the result. "In the 53rd minute, Acapandie was retreating toward his own goal, and there was minimal, accidental contact with Tavares, but Kolarić also judged that as a foul. After that free kick, Varaždin took the lead. In the 83rd minute, Tavares controlled the ball with his hand in Hajduk's penalty area, and no foul was called."
He concluded with a grim assessment of Kolarić's development. "Unfortunately, the once very promising referee Kolarić has continued with unconvincing performances like those we saw last season."
