HNK Gorica Women 0–2 ZNK Split Women
Croatian Women's First League | 10 May 2026

ZNK Split Women maintained their push for a top-half finish in the Croatian Women's First League with a composed 2-0 victory away at HNK Gorica Women on a mild spring evening in Velika Gorica. The result underlined Split's growing authority against mid-table opposition, while Gorica were left to rue missed chances in a match that turned on two clinical second‑half strikes.

Match Overview

The encounter at the Stadion Radnik saw the visitors dominate possession from the outset, but Gorica's disciplined defensive shape kept the scores level until the 38th minute. Split broke the deadlock through a well‑worked set‑piece, and then doubled their advantage early in the second half to seal a deserved win that moved them provisionally into third place in the league standings.

Key Moments

• 38' – Goal (0‑1): Split's captain, Ana Jurić, rose highest to meet a corner from the right, powering a header beyond the reach of Gorica goalkeeper Marija Vidović.
• 52' – Goal (0‑2): A swift counter‑attack caught the home defence out of position. Winger Petra Kovačević cut inside from the left flank and unleashed a low drive that nestled inside the far post.
• 74' – Missed chance: Gorica's best opportunity came when substitute forward Lucija Horvat fired narrowly over the bar from 12 yards after a rare defensive lapse by the Split backline.

Tactical Story

Gorica Women, under head coach Marko Babić, set up in a compact 4‑4‑2 shape, aiming to soak up pressure and hit on the break. The plan worked reasonably well for the first half‑hour, but Split's persistence from dead‑ball situations eventually paid dividends. After the opener, Gorica were forced to commit more numbers forward, leaving gaps that Split exploited with their pace on the counter. The second goal effectively killed the contest, as Gorica struggled to muster clear‑cut chances against a well‑organised Split defence anchored by veteran stopper Jelena Perić.

Standout Players

• Petra Kovačević (ZNK Split): Her goal was a moment of individual brilliance, and she was a constant threat down the left wing, completing four dribbles and delivering three key passes.
• Ana Jurić (ZNK Split): The captain's leadership was evident; she not only scored the crucial opener but also won the majority of her aerial duels and marshalled the defence after the break.
• Marija Vidović (HNK Gorica W): Despite conceding twice, the Gorica goalkeeper made several sharp saves, including a point‑blank stop from Split's top scorer in the 67th minute to keep the scoreline respectable.

Season Impact

The victory lifted ZNK Split to 32 points from 18 matches, strengthening their grip on third place in the Croatian Women's First League table. For HNK Gorica, the defeat left them in seventh position with 19 points, still within touching distance of the top six but now six points adrift of sixth‑placed Osijek. With only four rounds remaining, Gorica face a critical run of fixtures to secure their mid‑table status.

Split's head coach, Ivana Milas, praised her team's professionalism after the match: "We knew Gorica would be difficult to break down, but we stayed patient and took our chances when they came. The clean sheet was just as important as the goals."

Next up for ZNK Split is a home encounter against Dinamo Zagreb Women, while HNK Gorica travel to face bottom‑side Rijeka Women in a must‑win clash for their survival hopes.