Olimpija suffer third defeat in last four games: Albert Riera returns to Stožice and leads Celje to a resounding victory

Published on 27. August 2023 27. August 2023

It is
Olympia
in crisis? Well, let’s be honest: in the last four games, the Dragons haven’t shone by any chance. In Europe, they lost to Galatasaray and Qarabag without scoring a goal, in Kidričevo Olimpija won quite happily 5:4, and on Sunday they suffered a painful, very, very painful defeat in Stožice. Ljubljana celebrates
Celje
, which this season is led from the bench by none other than Albert Riera. The Spaniard returned to the scene of the crime and had the sweetest laugh at the end. Olimpija conceded four goals in front of their home crowd and were deservedly defeated 4:2. It was Olimpija’s second league defeat this season, while Celje moved back into first place in the Telemach First League with their fourth win in five games.

Olimpija scores first goal in the opening minute

The match hadn’t started well yet, and Olimpija was already trailing. After less than a minute, Celje launched a quick counter-attack, which was successfully finished by passer Yegor Prucev and scorer Alyosha Matko. The hits fell in 56. seconds! Just a few minutes later, Rui Pedro almost equalised, but Matko Obradovic’s shot was saved by the post. Also in 36. In the first minute, the Dragons only managed to shake the frame of the Celje goal, but immediately afterwards, luck turned their backs on the visitors. The ball flew to David Zeca and bounced into the net. Goal for 1:1. Celjani did not regret it for long, in 39. The lead was restored in the final minute. Alyosha Matko stole the ball from Agustin Doffo, Prucev dribbled down the left wing, looked up and spotted a lone Tamar Svetlin in the penalty area, who had no problem beating a helpless Matvez Vidovšek.

Jorge Silva Žan Karničnik Olimpija Celje — Photo: Nik Moder / Sportida

The interesting football performance continued in the second half. Celje celebrated the third goal three minutes after coming out of the dressing room, when Aljosa Matko, after a nice pass from the centre of the pitch, was not caught in the loop of a foul. The hot Celje player found himself alone in front of Vidovšek and overpowered him. Olimpija responded in the next attack, when David Sualehe made a great cross from the right wing and Nemanja Motika headed a shot in front of the net. V 54. Nino Kouter scored for the fourth time in the first minute. Again, the lion’s share of the scoring came from the lively Prucev, but in the end the ball was kicked under the crossbar by Kouter, who took advantage of the too hesitant intervention of the home defenders.

After the sixth goal in the derby between the two clubs openly flirting with the title, the game settled down. Olimpija had a ground advantage, but it was more often than not futile. Celjani were able to stop the home team’s attempts without too many problems and brought the match to a close with a score of 4:2.