Žilina Secures 2-1 Victory Over HNK Hajduk Split in UEFA Europa League Qualifier

Žilina 2-1 HNK Hajduk Split at Štadión pod Dubňom in the UEFA Europa League 1st Qualifying Round, as the Slovak side overturned a half-time deficit with a late own goal to take a narrow but significant first-leg advantage. With no league standings context attached to this qualifier, the result primarily reshapes the balance of the tie ahead of the return match, handing Žilina a one-goal cushion and psychological momentum after a stoppage-time winner.

Match Report

The game’s disciplinary tone was set early. On 20', Šimun Hrgović (HNK Hajduk Split) received a yellow card for tripping after stepping in late on the left flank as Žilina tried to break from deep. Ten minutes later, on 30', Alec Van Hoorenbeeck (HNK Hajduk Split) was also booked for tripping, this time halting a central carry and underlining Hajduk’s increasingly reactive defending as Žilina pushed up.

The visitors nevertheless struck first in first-half stoppage time. On 45+2' HNK Hajduk Split goal — A. Van Hoorenbeeck (assisted by S. Hrgovic). The centre-back stayed up after a set-piece phase and finished from close range after Hrgović recycled the ball back into the danger area, giving Hajduk a 1-0 lead at the interval.

Žilina reacted immediately after the restart with a defensive adjustment. On 46', M. Okal replaced T. Paliscak (Žilina), a like-for-like change at the back aimed at refreshing the defensive line and improving build-up on the right.

The hosts found their equaliser just before the hour. On 52' Žilina goal — M. Roginic (assisted by F. Kosa). Roginić finished from inside the box after Kóša slipped a pass into space, capping a well-constructed move that pulled Hajduk’s back line out of shape and levelled the score at 1-1.

As legs began to tire, both coaches turned to their benches. On 64', D. de Almeida replaced N. Skoko (HNK Hajduk Split), adding fresh energy in the attacking midfield band and offering more direct running between the lines. Two minutes later, Žilina made a double switch to sustain their tempo. On 66', F. Bzdyl replaced M. Kacer (Žilina), injecting more dynamism in central midfield, and in the same minute, M. Fasko replaced F. Kosa (Žilina), a forward-thinking substitution that kept a high pressing presence up front after Kóša’s creative work in the first hour.

The increased intensity brought more contact. On 67', X. Adang (Žilina) received a yellow card for roughing after a robust challenge in midfield as he tried to break up a Hajduk transition.

Žilina continued to refresh their front line. On 72', S. Datko replaced P. Ilko (Žilina), maintaining vertical threat and pressing from the forward line as the hosts chased a winner.

Hajduk responded with a double substitution of their own on 75', reshaping both flanks and midfield balance. On 75', A. Sanyang replaced S. Hrgovic (HNK Hajduk Split), removing the already-booked full-back and adding a more attacking wide option, and in the same minute, A. Guram replaced R. Brajkovic (HNK Hajduk Split), bringing in fresh legs in midfield to help regain control of possession and support the lone striker.

Žilina’s final wave of changes came on 82', aimed at sustaining midfield intensity and adding creativity. On 82', A. Florea replaced X. Adang (Žilina), swapping a more destructive midfielder for a ball-progressor as the hosts pushed for a decisive second goal.

Hajduk’s last roll of the dice in attack arrived on 84', with a change at centre-forward. On 84', M. Livaja replaced M. Sego (HNK Hajduk Split), introducing an experienced striker to hold up play and offer a focal point on counters in the closing stages.

The decisive moment, however, went Žilina’s way in stoppage time and came in cruel fashion for the visitors. On 90+1' Žilina goal — D. Melnjak (unassisted). The Hajduk defender diverted the ball into his own net, an own goal under pressure inside the area, swinging the scoreline to 2-1 in favour of the hosts at the death.

There was still time for one final disciplinary note. On 90+2', A. Florea (Žilina) received a yellow card for tripping after a late challenge as Hajduk tried to launch a last attack, but Žilina held firm to close out the 2-1 home win.

Fixture Statistics & Tactical Audit

• xG: Žilina — vs HNK Hajduk Split —
• Possession: Žilina — vs HNK Hajduk Split —
• Shots on Target: Žilina — vs HNK Hajduk Split —
• Goalkeeper Saves: Žilina — vs HNK Hajduk Split —

With no underlying numbers recorded for xG, possession, shots or saves, the tactical reading rests on the event pattern and substitutions. Hajduk’s first-half approach was compact and risk-averse, reflected in two early yellow cards for tripping as they repeatedly stopped Žilina’s counters rather than contesting territory higher up. Their goal, arriving from a recycled set-piece just before half-time, underlined their focus on dead-ball situations and opportunistic moments rather than sustained attacking pressure.

Žilina, by contrast, used their bench aggressively to tilt the game. The early second-half substitution in defence, followed by rapid changes in midfield and attack around the 66' mark, signalled a deliberate attempt to raise the tempo and maintain a high press. The equaliser from Roginić, created by Kóša, came in open play and rewarded that proactive posture. As the match wore on, Hajduk’s substitutions sought to restore balance and introduce more attacking quality, but the visitors struggled to generate clear chances in the closing stages and ultimately cracked under late pressure, with Melnjak’s own goal at 90+1' emblematic of a side defending deeper and under sustained stress.

Standings Update & Seasonal Impact

As this was a UEFA Europa League 1st Qualifying Round tie with no league table data attached, the impact is best measured within the context of the two-legged qualifier rather than domestic standings. Žilina’s 2-1 victory gives them a slender but valuable one-goal lead to protect in the return leg, with the psychological edge of having come from behind and scored twice after the break. Hajduk, having surrendered a half-time advantage and conceded a stoppage-time own goal, now face the tactical challenge of overturning the deficit at home, likely needing to adopt a more assertive attacking plan in the second leg while tightening up their late-game defensive management.

Lineups & Personnel

Žilina Starting XI

• GK: Jakub Badžgoň
• DF: Tobias Pališčák, Ján Minárik, Aleksandre Narimanidze, Timotej Hranica
• MF: Xavier Adang, Miroslav Káčer, Krisztián Bari, František Kóša
• FW: Marko Roginić, Patrik Iľko

HNK Hajduk Split Starting XI

• GK: Toni Silić
• DF: Mathieu Acapandié, Marino Skelin, Alec Van Hoorenbeeck, Šimun Hrgović
• MF: Rokas Pukštas, Adrion Pajaziti, Roko Brajković, Noa Skoko, Dario Melnjak
• FW: Michele Šego

Post-Match Verdict

Žilina’s comeback was built less on clear statistical dominance and more on structural and personnel decisions. Their willingness to adjust early in the second half, refreshing both defence and attack, allowed them to sustain pressure and eventually force errors, culminating in Roginić’s equaliser and the decisive own goal from Melnjak. While we lack hard numbers on shots or xG, the pattern of substitutions and late territorial advantage suggests a performance that was more persistent than clinical, with the winning goal coming from pressure rather than precision finishing.

For HNK Hajduk Split, this was closer to a defensive collapse than a controlled away-leg display. Two early yellow cards for tripping highlighted a reactive, foul-heavy approach to transitions, and despite snatching a lead through Van Hoorenbeeck’s goal, they failed to convert that platform into a stable second-half performance. The sequence of substitutions — including the removal of the booked Hrgović and the introduction of Livaja — did not translate into sustained attacking threat, and the stoppage-time own goal encapsulated a side defending too deep and under duress. Heading into the second leg, Hajduk will need a more front-footed plan and sharper game management to overturn Žilina’s narrow advantage.