Gorica was defeated 3-0 by Lokomotiva at Maksimir Stadium in the opening match of the 21st round of the SuperSport HNL. Goals were scored by Marko Pajač, Blaž Bošković, and Aleks Stojaković, but the match was overshadowed by the controversial officiating of referee Zdenko Lovrić. The most contentious moment occurred when Lovrić concluded the first half while Gorica was making a promising counterattack, leading to much frustration for Gorica's coach, Mario Carević.

Following the match, Carević expressed his anger about being sent off for throwing his jacket in frustration at the referee's decision. He emphasized the difficulty of remaining composed under such circumstances, particularly when his team had a chance to score a goal that could have turned the game around. Carević urged his players to keep their emotions in check during halftime, but his own reaction led to his red card, indicating the intense pressure and frustrations faced by coaches during challenging matches.

Overall, this game highlighted not only the challenges of competing in a high-stakes league but also the significant role that officiating can play in determining the outcomes of matches. Carević’s explosive reaction reflects the passion and deep emotional investment that coaches have in their teams, and the incident raises questions about the consistency and fairness of refereeing in Croatian football. The fans and players alike will be hoping for a more favorable officiating experience in future matches to avoid such outbursts and maintain the integrity of the competition.