Rijeka secured a narrow 1-0 victory over HNK Gorica in a Croatian Football League match at Stadion Rujevica. The solitary goal proved decisive in a tight contest, giving Rijeka a crucial three points in their league campaign as they look to close the gap on the division's frontrunners. The match's only goal came in the second half, breaking the deadlock after a first period of few clear chances. Rijeka's defense held firm under late pressure from Gorica, with the goalkeeper making a key save in the final minutes to preserve the clean sheet. The result sees Rijeka climb the league table, while Gorica will be disappointed not to have taken at least a point from a defensively solid away performance. The home manager praised his team's resilience, stating, "We showed the character needed to win these tight games." The Gorica coach reflected on missed opportunities, saying, "We had our moments but lacked the final quality." The starting lineup for Rijeka featured their typical defensive structure, while Gorica lined up in a compact 4-2-3-1 formation aiming to counter.