NK Istra 1961 earned a narrow 1-0 home victory over HNK Gorica in the Croatian Football League, securing three valuable points at the Stadion Aldo Drosina. A solitary goal was enough to separate the two sides in a match that was short on clear scoring opportunities. The decisive moment came in the second half, with Istra 1961 capitalizing on a defensive error or a moment of individual quality to take the lead. Gorica pushed for an equalizer but struggled to break down a well-organized Istra defense. This win provides a crucial boost for Istra 1961's league campaign, moving them up the table, while Gorica will be frustrated not to have taken at least a point from a closely contested away fixture.