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Friendlies ClubsSeason 2026

NK Osijek vs Rizespor

25 July 2026 at 17:00
13
AI

Rizespor beat NK Osijek 3-1 in a pre-season friendly in Radomlje, Slovenia, with goals from Varešanović, Laçi and Tosun before Armando Leon replied.

Match Videos

Match Analysis

AI Summary

How It Unfolded

The first half was a cagey affair typical of pre-season, with few clear chances at either end. Just as the half looked destined to finish goalless, Rizespor broke the deadlock in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Bosnian midfielder Dal Varešanović found the net to give the Turkish Super Lig side a 0-1 lead at the break.

Rizespor came out firing after half-time. Within two minutes of the restart, Albanian midfielder Qazim Laçi doubled the advantage, catching the Osijek defence cold. The Turkish side made it three in the 61st minute when Mustafa Tosun added a third, effectively settling the contest.

Osijek's Mexican striker Armando Leon reduced the deficit in the 76th minute, scoring his side's only goal of the afternoon, but the damage was already done.

The Turning Point

Laçi's goal in the 47th minute — just 120 seconds after the restart — was the decisive blow. Osijek would have hoped to regroup at half-time and start the second half on the front foot, but instead found themselves two goals down before they had settled. From 2-0 down, the Croatian side never truly looked capable of mounting a recovery, and Tosun's third goal 14 minutes later confirmed the result.

Key Performers

Mustafa Tosun — Rizespor's forward was a constant threat and capped his display with a well-taken goal in the 61st minute. He also led the press effectively, forcing Osijek into errors in their own half.

Qazim Laçi — The Albanian international scored the crucial second goal within two minutes of the second half starting, effectively killing the contest. His movement between the lines caused problems all afternoon.

Armando Leon — Osijek's Mexican forward was a bright spot for the hosts. He scored the consolation goal in the 76th minute and, per Croatian outlet Index.hr, has been one of the most impressive new arrivals in pre-season.

Player of the Match: Mustafa Tosun (Rizespor)

By the Numbers — Interpreted

The scoreline paints a clear picture of Rizespor's superiority. The Turkish side led 1-0 at half-time despite a largely uneventful first 45 minutes, then struck twice in 14 minutes around the break to build an unassailable lead. Osijek's only goal came with 14 minutes remaining, too little too late to spark a comeback. The match was played in Radomlje, Slovenia, where both sides are holding pre-season training camps.

What It Means

For Rizespor, this was their third pre-season fixture and kept their unbeaten summer record intact. After a draw with Erzurumspor and a win over Dinamo Batumi, Recep Uçar's side now face a tougher test against Premier League-bound Hull City on 28 July.

Osijek, meanwhile, ended their pre-season programme with a mixed set of results. The Croatian side — who notably did not publish the final score on their social media channels, sparking fan frustration reported by Index.hr — now turn their attention to the new SHNL season. They open their campaign away at Gorica in a week's time.

Verdict

A comfortable friendly win for Rizespor, who were sharper in both boxes and struck at crucial moments. Osijek showed glimpses of promise through Leon but remain a work in progress under their new coaching setup. The scoreline reflected the gap in preparation between a Turkish side nearing the start of their Super Lig campaign and a Croatian side still finalising their squad.

Match Events

Key match events between NK Osijek and Rizespor — 4 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.

Kick Off
Half Time
61′
M. Tosun
76′
Full Time

Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

API data: 26 Jul 2026