Borac head into the winter break of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Premier League with a three-point lead over second-placed Zrinjski, despite losing 1–0 to the Mostar side in Banja Luka.
This third-round fixture was originally scheduled for August but was postponed due to Zrinjski’s commitments in European competition. In the final match of the first part of the season, Borac started without regular goalkeeper Mladen Jurkas, who was replaced between the posts by Damjan Šiškovski, while Zrinjski handed a debut to goalkeeper Tin Sajić. The “red and blues” created a host of chances but failed to convert them, while Zrinjski secured all three points after a penalty.
Zrinjski had the first clear opportunity as early as the seventh minute, when Jakov Pranjić broke down the left flank and delivered a ball into the six-yard box, but Matej Šakota sent his effort over the crossbar from a promising position. Two minutes later, Damir Hrelja tried his luck from a tight angle on the right, but the ball went wide. Borac threatened in the 17th minute when Hrelja crossed from the right, Luka Juričić set the ball up with a backheel for Miloš Jojić, whose shot from 11 meters was off target. Just six minutes later, Borac had another excellent chance: Stefan Savić brilliantly cut through the visitors’ defense and found Jojić, who rounded goalkeeper Sajić, but Igor Savić cleared the ball off the line.
In the 31st minute, Zrinjski defender Igor Savić attempted a header from a corner, but Šiškovski reacted well. Zrinjski were forced into a change in the 40th minute when Nemanja Bilbija was injured after landing awkwardly from a corner. Borac came close again in the 43rd minute when Stefan Savić struck the post from close range following a free kick delivered by Amer Hiroš, which had been awarded after Duje Dujmović fouled Hrelja.
Early in the second half, in the 49th minute, Zrinjski were awarded a penalty after Borac captain Srđan Grahovac brought down Ivančić in the box. Referee Nihad Ljajić pointed to the spot, a decision confirmed by VAR. Šakota’s initial effort was saved by Šiškovski, but the forward followed up and scored from the rebound.
Borac pushed hard for an equalizer. In the 60th minute, Stefan Savić fired a powerful shot from around 25 meters, but Sajić made a fine save. Grahovac also tested the goalkeeper from long range, with Sajić again equal to the task. Zrinjski were reduced to ten men in the 73rd minute when Duje Dujmović received a second yellow card for striking Juričić in the face. Moments later, Juričić had a chance from the resulting free kick but failed to hit the target.
Borac had several late opportunities to level the score. In the 86th minute, Nemanja Jakšić headed just wide, while a minute later Viktor Rogan was denied by Sajić. Another big chance came in the 89th minute, but Jojić and Stojan Vranješ were unable to find the net. Even in stoppage time, Borac threatened once more, yet Sajić managed to recover after a clumsy intervention and preserve Zrinjski’s narrow victory.
Source: Glas Srpske
