Beltinci vs Podvinci

Podvinci stunned the hosts with an 11th-minute opener, catching the Beltinci defence flat-footed from a well-worked move that finished with a shot into the far corner.

Beltinci responded patiently. Gasp er Cerne levelled in the 31st minute, reacting quickest in the box after Tilen Scernjavic's delivery caused chaos. Four minutes later, Beltinci turned the game around: Tian Rantasa fed Cerne, who laid it off for Klemen Mlakar, and the forward slotted past the Podvinci goalkeeper to make it 2-1.

But Podvinci struck back on the stroke of half-time — a rare attack finished with a spectacular strike from distance, making it 2-2 at the break.

Beltinci dominated the second half from the restart. The decisive moment came in the 56th minute when Jure Adamic's ball into the box forced a defensive error, and Scernjavic pounced on the loose ball, firing first-time into an empty net for 3-2.

Five substitutions in the 69th minute refreshed the home side, and the fresh legs proved decisive. Tian Rantasa unleashed a 20-metre strike in the 72nd minute that flew past the goalkeeper for 4-2. Remarkably, within the same minute, substitute Golden Okocha Gibson intercepted a sloppy back-pass from a Podvinci defender, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home for 5-2.

Gasp er Cerne — scored the crucial equaliser and provided the assist for Mlakar's go-ahead goal. His movement in the box caused problems all afternoon.

Tian Rantasa — captained the side from centre-back before scoring a stunning long-range goal. After the match, he told ND Beltinci: "Definitely a tough match. When the opponent sits in the box, it's hard to score. But in the end we fought and won the game."

Golden Okocha Gibson — came off the bench and made an immediate impact, intercepting the back-pass and scoring within a minute of entering the pitch.

Tilen Scernjavic — provided the assist for Cerne's equaliser and scored the third goal that broke the deadlock after the break.

Player of the Match: Tian Rantasa (Beltinci)

Beltinci registered 10 shots on target to Podvinci's 2, and 14 shots off target to 1, reflecting near-total territorial dominance. The 145 attacks (to 68) and 113 dangerous attacks (to 22) tell the story of a side that controlled the game for long spells, particularly after the interval. The 2-2 half-time score flattered Podvinci, who created little beyond their two goals. Beltinci's 9 fouls to 2 suggests they were rarely troubled defensively.

This was Beltinci's third pre-season friendly of the 2026/27 campaign, following earlier wins in their preparations for the Slovenian Second League (2. SNL). Dvorsak's side face Sharjah in a closed-door friendly on 22 July before their league campaign begins. Podvinci, competing in the Slovenian third tier, continue their own pre-season schedule.

"We stick to our principles and our system of play, and we are only building on that," Rantasa told ND Beltinci, summing up the team's approach to pre-season.

A tale of two halves: Podvinci's deep defensive block frustrated Beltinci before the break, but a composed second-half performance — turbocharged by smart substitutions — turned a competitive friendly into a comfortable win. Beltinci's depth and tactical flexibility under Dvorsak are encouraging signs ahead of the new season.

Scorers: Podvinci 11', Cerne 31', Mlakar 35', Podvinci 44', Scernjavic 56', Rantasa 72', Gibson 72'

Venue: Sportni park Beltinci

Competition: Friendlies Clubs (World), Season 2026