In the most recent match of the Croatian First Football League, Rijeka triumphed over Vukovar 1991 with a close score of 1-0, aided by a second-half penalty scored by Toni Fruk. The match had a lackluster first half, with minimal action witnessed by fans in the stadium, but the second half sparked interest due to defensive errors from Vukovar right from the start. A series of unforced errors from the Vukovar defense led to a penalty claim after a contentious tussle, which was reviewed by VAR, resulting in an awarded penalty for Rijeka.

Following the VAR decision, Fruk successfully converted the penalty in the 51st minute, giving Rijeka the lead. The game saw a disallowed goal shortly after, when Rijeka's Rukavina found the back of the net, but it was ruled offside following further review. Rijeka continued to press, with Fruk missing a key opportunity in the 85th minute that could have extended their lead. With this victory, Rijeka solidified their position in the league standings, now sitting third with 38 points, maintaining a three-point advantage over their closest rivals, Slaven Belupo.

Post-match, Čabraja expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of VAR, highlighting its impact on the flow of the game and questioning certain decisions made during the match. Conversely, Sanchez stated that his team controlled the match effectively, suggesting a strong overall performance despite the controversies surrounding VAR decisions. The match reflects ongoing discussions in football regarding the use of technology and its influence on the game, especially in critical moments such as penalty calls.