Slaven Belupo edged a narrow 1-0 home victory over NK Istra 1961 in a tightly contested Croatian Football League match on February 28, 2026. The match at Gradski stadion Ivan Kušek-Apaš was decided by a single goal, a scrappy second-half effort that proved enough for all three points. In a game of few clear chances, both defenses were on top for large periods, with the midfield battle being particularly fierce. The decisive moment came from a set-piece situation, with Belupo's striker reacting quickest to a loose ball in the box to poke home. The win provided Slaven Belupo with crucial points in their fight to move away from the relegation zone, while the defeat was a setback for Istra 1961's hopes of a top-half finish. The Belupo coach highlighted the importance of grinding out results, and the Istra manager expressed disappointment at conceding from a set play.