SHELBOURNE – HNK RIJEKA 1:3 (Odubeko 86′-pen/Fruk 33′, Dantas 72′, Oreč 89′)

Shelbourne: Speel – Mbeng, Bone, Barrett, Norris (Caffrey 79′) – Wood, Lunney (Chapman 79′), Ledwidge – Coote (Martin 46′), Odubeko, Mcinroy (Kelly 90’+2′)

HNK Rijeka: Zlomislić – Oreč, Majtorović, Radeljić, Devetak – Petrovič, Dantas (Kreilach 90’+1′) – Ndockyt (Menalo 90’+4′), Fruk, Janković – Jurić (Lasickas 75′)

Rijeka secured a place in the UEFA Europa League play-offs in Dublin by defeating Irish side Shelbourne 3-1 in the second leg after a dramatic and eventful match. Đalović’s team was determined from the very start to make amends for the impression left in the first game and imposed a tempo that limited the hosts to only a few outings forward. Rijeka took the lead in the 33rd minute when Ante Oreč made an excellent run down the right wing and crossed the ball; after quick exchanges between Jurić and Dantas, Toni Fruk struck a beautiful volley from the edge of the penalty area into the net. That goal brought calmness and the much-needed control of the game.

In the second half, Rijeka continued to press and search for a second goal. They found it in the 72nd minute when Tiago Dantas, one of the best players on the pitch, unleashed a strike from around 30 meters that flew into the top corner, leaving the Shelbourne goalkeeper with no chance. However, the closing stages of the match brought a dramatic shift in atmosphere – in the 86th minute, Oreč committed a foul inside his own penalty area, and after a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot. Ademipo Odubeko converted the penalty to make it 1-2, briefly rekindling the home fans’ hopes.

Only three minutes later, Oreč redeemed himself in the best possible way – he received the ball about ten meters from goal, turned, and fired a precise shot into the corner for 1-3, settling all doubts about who would progress to the next round. The final minutes saw a few more substitutions and applause from the small group of travelling Rijeka fans in the stands.

This victory guaranteed Rijeka a place in the group stage of the Europa Conference League, as well as the chance to fight for a Europa League berth. In addition to the sporting success, the club also secured significant financial revenue from UEFA. Dantas and Fruk stood out as the driving force of the midfield, while Oreč went from villain to hero of the match. The game showcased Rijeka’s maturity, composure under pressure, and squad depth – qualities that could be crucial for the rest of their European campaign.