Kustosija vs Krka

Krka struck first against the run of second-half play. Just before the interval, Veron Šalja reacted quickest to a corner and a loose ball, turning home from close range to give the visitors a 0-1 lead at the break.

Whatever Kustosija's coaching staff said at half-time had an immediate effect. The hosts emerged from the tunnel with far greater intensity and pinned Krka inside their own half. The equaliser came in the 60th minute when Vučković stepped up to convert a penalty — 1-1.

Eleven minutes later, Kustosija won a second spot-kick, and Vučković again held his nerve to send the goalkeeper the wrong way, making it 2-1 in the 71st minute.

With Krka forced to push forward in search of an equaliser, Kustosija picked them off on the counter. Vučković completed his hat-trick from open play in the 80th minute, rolling home after a defensive mix-up. Belinho added a fourth in the 90th minute to round off a dominant second-half performance.

The two penalties awarded within 11 minutes of the restart completely reshaped the contest. Having controlled the first half and led through Šalja's strike, Krka had no answer to Kustosija's increased tempo after the break. Once the second penalty went in, the game was effectively over.

Vučković (Kustosija) — A match-winning hat-trick: two composed penalties plus a sharp finish from open play. The standout performer on the pitch.

Belinho (Kustosija) — Scored the fourth goal in stoppage time and was a lively presence in the final third throughout the second half.

Veron Šalja (Krka) — Took his goal well just before half-time, showing good anticipation from a corner. Krka's most dangerous player.

Player of the match: Vučković (Kustosija)

Kustosija's four goals all came in the second half — a clear indicator of an improved tactical approach after the break. The two penalties (60', 71') suggest Krka's defence struggled to cope with the hosts' runners in the box once the intensity lifted. Krka, by contrast, failed to register a single shot on target after half-time, a reflection of how completely the momentum shifted.

This was part of Kustosija's pre-season preparations for the 2026/27 season in the Croatian SuperSport Prva NL (second tier), for which the club secured a licence in April 2026. Kustosija is an ambitious project led by prominent Croatian agent Andy Bara, with former Olimpija Ljubljana sporting director Goran Boromisa in the same role and ex-Maribor striker Hilal Soudani still in the squad.

For Krka, who play in the Slovenian 2. SNL, this was their fourth pre-season friendly of the summer. The Novo Mesto side will look to tighten up defensively before the competitive season begins.

A tale of two halves. Krka's discipline and organisation in the first 45 minutes gave way to a complete collapse after the interval. Kustosija's second-half intensity, clinical finishing from Vučković, and the two quick-fire penalties proved decisive. The 4-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of the balance of play after the break.