NK Varazdin vs Kustosija

The first half produced no goals, but Kustošija struck four minutes after the restart. In the 49th minute, the visitors opened the scoring to put the SuperSport HNL side on the back foot.

Varažidin levelled seven minutes later through M. Vuk (56’), who found the net to restore parity. The momentum shifted decisively in the home side’s favour when S. Jurić put them ahead in the 69th minute. Substitute R. Domjanic sealed the win with a third goal in the 79th minute, completing the turnaround.

All three Varažidin goals came in a 23-minute spell between the 56th and 79th minutes.

Kustošija’s early second-half opener could have set the tone for an upset, but Varažidin’s response was immediate. Vuk’s equaliser in the 56th minute — just seven minutes after falling behind — prevented the visitors from settling into a defensive shape and forced them to chase the game. Once Jurić made it 2-1 in the 69th minute, the outcome was effectively settled.

M. Vuk scored the equaliser that triggered the comeback, the pivotal moment that swung the match.

S. Jurić followed up with the go-ahead goal in the 69th minute, continuing his productive pre-season.

R. Domjanic came off the bench to add the third in the 79th minute, rewarding the manager’s substitution call.

The 0-0 half-time scoreline suggests a cagey opening, but Varažidin’s three-goal second half tells a story of growing dominance. Kustošija scored with their first meaningful attack after the break, only to concede three times in the following half-hour. The home side’s superior fitness and depth — typical of a top-flight side against a second-division opponent in pre-season — told as the game wore on.

This was NK Varažidin’s fifth straight pre-season friendly win since an initial 2-1 loss to Lokomotiva at the start of the summer. The run includes victories over Romanian sides Voluntari (2-1) and Bihor (3-1), Bulgarian side CSKA 1948 Sofia (1-0), and Slovenian side Radomlje (1-0). For Kustošija, this was their first pre-season test against top-tier opposition this summer.

The match was Varažidin’s penultimate pre-season fixture. They faced Slovenian side Beltinci in a second friendly later the same evening (16 July, 18:30 local time) to complete their preparations before the competitive season begins.

A routine second-half demolition from a Varažidin side that looks sharp heading into the new SuperSport HNL campaign. Kustošija briefly threatened an upset but lacked the stamina to sustain their lead against a well-drilled top-flight opponent.