Ilija Nestorovski scores twice as Slaven Belupo beat Rijeka 4:1
Nestorovski scored in the 68th and 74th minutes to seal a 4:1 home victory over Rijeka in the Croatian league.
Ilija Nestorovski scored twice as Slaven Belupo came from behind to beat Rijeka 4:1 in a Croatian First League match on October 11, 2026. The Macedonian forward proved decisive for the hosts after Rijeka took an early lead.
Rijeka opened the scoring in the 7th minute through Tiago Dantas from the penalty spot, but Slaven levelled in the 35th minute when John Mersinaj converted to make it 1:1.
Second-half turnaround
Early in the second half Lovro Banovec put Slaven ahead with a 52nd-minute strike, and the home side extended their advantage thanks to Nestorovski.
Nestorovski's first came in the 68th minute — a precise left-footed shot from about 20 metres that made it 3:1. Six minutes later he added his second: after a Marko Dabro header struck the crossbar and the ball fell into the box, Nestorovski reacted quickly and finished into the net for the final 4:1.
The two goals underlined the veteran striker's importance to Slaven Belupo and ensured a convincing home win that delighted the local supporters.
Photo: NK Slaven Belupo (FB)
