Radomlje reached the point against Maribor also with the help of four teenagers: Matej Malenšek scored a goal, Jakob Kobal saved a penalty
Photo: Global Game Media
Radomlje caused a surprise in the 5th round of the Slovenian league on Sunday by drawing 1:1 with Maribor in Domžale in front of 350 spectators. The 1:1 result was undoubtedly unexpected for many. Maribor has been in exceptional form in the Prva liga Telemach since the beginning of the year and further boosted their confidence during the week by advancing to the final round of the Conference League qualifiers. However, it seems that fatigue from a demanding match in Serbia took its toll, which the Radomlje team capitalized on, earning their fourth point of the season.
The success of Radomlje is even greater because the starting lineup featured four home-grown academy players, all teenagers who once again proved that they are worth counting on. Their stories are also a testament to the excellent work being done with young players in Radomlje. In the past, the yellow and black team helped develop young talents for Hajduk Split, but this season they have chosen to focus on providing more opportunities to their own teenagers.
The standout player of the match was undoubtedly Jakob Kobal, who is just 18 years old. The former Ilirija and Celje player has only two appearances in the Prva liga Telemach but demonstrated several top-class saves against Maribor. This was particularly evident towards the end of the match when he won a one-on-one duel with Arnel Jakupović. Maribor’s striker had a penalty kick, but Jakob Kobal made an excellent save, affirming that Slovenia truly produces talented goalkeepers.
Meanwhile, Matej Malenšek, a 19-year-old attacking player, scored the equalizing goal. He has played 19 matches in the Prva liga Telemach and scored 4 goals. He found the net against Maribor with a cool reaction at the right post and an excellent shot that left experienced Ažbe Jug helpless. Matej Malenšek, who was born in Croatia but holds a Slovenian passport, attended school in Vinica and honed his football skills in Bela Krajina, making his senior debut at just sixteen. He has already made a mark in the 1. SNL and is currently among the hottest young talents in the country. Interestingly, Matej Malenšek could represent either Croatia or Slovenia at the international level.
Stjepan Davidović, also from neighboring Croatia, grew up in Poreč where he started his career with Jadran before moving to Slovenia and proving himself in Hajduk’s youth setup. Born in 2005, he has 19 top-flight appearances and one goal, alongside 56 games in youth categories. The significant interest in him from other clubs demonstrates his potential. Radomlje secured his services with a professional contract until 2027.
Finally, Rok Štorman, the fourth teenager who helped Radomlje secure the point against Maribor, first drew attention in the 2022/23 season as the top scorer with 19 goals in the youth league. The former Celje player then gained senior experience on loan with NK Brinje Grosuplje in the 2. SNL last season and has now returned to Radomlje, where he has featured in all five games this season. Although he is still waiting for his first goal, he was the third-highest rated player in Radomlje after the first four games of the new season with an average rating of 7.03 (source: SofaScore).
In short, the future lies with the youth, and Slovenian football clubs are increasingly recognizing their importance. Not only are they a more reliable potential source of good income, but recent examples show that they are also capable of meeting challenges on the main stage. Radomlje proves this point well.
This text was automatically translated using AI.
Author: editorial Football Planet