Olimpija, with the sports director on the bench, lost the battle for 2nd place: Josip Iličić led Maribor to victory in the 157th eternal derby

Published on 11. May 2024 11. May 2024

Photo: Blaž Weindorfer / Sportida

In the sold-out Ljudski vrt, the old rivals clashed for the last time in the 2023/24 season. Maribor hosted Olimpija in front of Turkish tycoon Acun Ilicalı, who will try to reach an agreement with the purple leadership for entry into the club from the Styrian capital in the coming days. The guest team traveled to the 157th eternal derby without a coach. Sports director Goran Boromisa took the reins, teaming up with local strategist Ante Šimundža to deliver a good, enjoyable football performance.

Although both clubs were already out of the title race, the derby was filled with intense competition. A win for Olimpija would have secured second place on the table. However, it was Maribor who emerged victorious, enabling them to surpass their opponent on the leaderboard. The match ended 2-1 in favor of Maribor, giving them a two-point lead over Olimpija.

Vidovšek’s Costly Mistake

Although Olimpija posed the first serious threat, with Peter Agba hitting the post from the left side of the penalty area, Maribor was the first to celebrate. Just five minutes later, Josip Iličić delivered an excellent cross from the left wing, but Matevž Vidovšek misjudged the flight of the ball completely. Olimpija’s goalkeeper ventured unnecessarily far from his goal, only to completely miss the ball with a clumsy jump. This allowed Hillal Soudani to easily find the net.

Maribor Olimpija večni derbi Soudani — Hillal Soudani scored the first goal in the 157th eternal derby. Photo: Blaž Weindorfer / Sportida

Ante Šimundža was forced to make his first substitution in the 23rd minute after Jan Repas felt discomfort, replaced by his brother Žiga Repas. Just four minutes later, Maribor celebrated again with a goal by Josip Iličić. However, the joy was short-lived as Hillal Soudani, who provided the assist, was offside when receiving the ball. This was not the only disallowed goal for Maribor in the first half; Arnel Jakupović also had a goal disallowed for offside just before halftime.

Olimpija’s 15 Shots

Olimpija missed an ideal opportunity to equalize just before the end of the first half when Maribor’s midfield lost the ball easily after Ažbe Jug‘s clearance. A quick counter-attack by the Dragons down the left side led to Raul Florucz being completely unmarked on the far post, but he missed the ball! Maribor won the first half 1-0, but considering the chances, the scoreline could have been quite different. Olimpija, for instance, had 15 shots on goal, three times more than Maribor, who scored three times, with only the first goal counting.

Maribor’s lead slightly relaxed, allowing Olimpija to equalize in the 61st minute. After some fine dribbling by Nemanja Motika, David Sualehe took the shot, which deflected off Martin Milec and past Ažbe Jug into the net. The referees reviewed the footage for several minutes, suggesting offside, but the goal stood.

Ante Šimundža responded with a triple substitution, replacing Milec, Jakupović, and Lorber, and three minutes later, the stadium under Kalvarija erupted once again. Maribor earned a corner, which Josip Iličić expertly delivered to Pijus Širvys, who headed it into the net with a precise diagonal shot, restoring Maribor’s lead. With Slovenian national team coach Matjaž Kek also present at Ljudski vrt, Josip Iličić couldn’t have picked a better time to showcase his exceptional form once again…

Maribor takes the lead. Scorer Širvys.⚽️ #football #PrvaLigaTelemach
Maribor 2⃣➖1⃣ Olimpija pic.twitter.com/NNRpp3N8Yn
— Šport TV Slovenija (@SportTVSlovenia) May 11, 2024

Until the end of the match, which referee Nejc Kajtazović extended by seven minutes, the score remained unchanged. Olimpija tried to equalize, but Maribor was resilient, organized, and focused enough. Passions were high at the end of the game, but it ended without unnecessary incidents. Olimpija put up a good fight, especially considering the turmoil in the club this week, but Maribor ultimately deservedly secured all three points. At this moment, they are one step ahead of their eternal rival.