NK Varazdin vs FK Jablonec

Varaždin struck first in the 24th minute. Ivan Canjuga picked out Cape Verdean forward Iuri Tavares inside the area, and Tavares' crisp volley beat Jablonec goalkeeper Jan Hanuš at his near post. The lead lasted only three minutes. Filip Zorvan's delivery found Martin Cedidla, who equalised for the visitors in the 27th minute, sending the sides in level at half-time.

Jablonec emerged sharper after the break. In the 56th minute, Filip Novák swung in a corner and Nemanja Tekijaški, unmarked at the far post, headed home to put the Czech side 2-1 ahead. But Varaždin answered back in the 68th minute. Canjuga turned provider again, this time crossing for Ivan Mamut to power a header past Hanuš from close range.

The tie swung decisively in the 82nd minute. Frane Maglica found space on the right flank and delivered a pinpoint cross for Mamić, who slotted home to make it 3-2. Jablonec pushed for an equaliser late on but could not find a way through.

Varaždin's double substitution in the 61st minute — introducing Aleksa Latković and Luka Škaričić — injected fresh energy into the home side's attacking play. From that moment, the Croatian side controlled the tempo, and both Mamut's equaliser and Mamić's winner came from wide deliveries that exploited Jablonec's defensive disorganisation. The Czech side had looked comfortable leading 2-1 but failed to manage the game after the reshuffle.

Ivan Canjuga (Varaždin) — Two assists, both from quality deliveries into the box. The 25-year-old midfielder was the creative fulcrum of Varaždin's attack.

Ivan Mamut (Varaždin) — The towering striker scored the 68th-minute equaliser and consistently troubled Jablonec's back three with his aerial presence.

Nemanja Tekijaški (Jablonec) — Scored the goal that put his side ahead and was a threat from set pieces throughout, but his side could not hold the lead.

Player of the match: Ivan Canjuga — his two assists underpinned Varaždin's comeback.

The match produced five goals from an expected total that reflected the open nature of the contest. Varaždin's wide overloads in the second half proved decisive: both of their second-half goals originated from crosses into the box, exploiting Jablonec's three-man defence, which struggled to track runners in wide areas. Jablonec's 3-4-3 shape offered width in attack but left gaps in the channels that Varaždin's full-backs exploited after the hour mark.

Varaždin take a 3-2 lead into the second leg at the Stadion Střelnice in Jablonec nad Nisou on Thursday 30 July. The Croatian side, who finished third in the HNL last season, need only a draw to progress to the third qualifying round, where they would face the winner of RFS vs Vestri (RFS won the first leg 4-1). Jablonec, who qualified for Europe as Czech Cup finalists after Karviná's disqualification, must win by at least two goals or by a one-goal margin with a scoreline of 3-2 or higher to advance.

An entertaining, open first leg that leaves the tie finely balanced. Varaždin's second-half response showed resilience, but they conceded twice and will know they cannot afford similar defensive lapses in the return. Jablonec will regret not managing the game better after taking the lead, but a one-goal deficit is far from insurmountable on home soil.