HNK Cibalia fell to a 1-2 home defeat against Karlovac in the Croatian First Football League on March 8, 2026, in a closely fought contest. Karlovac took the lead twice, with Cibalia equalizing in between, but the visitors found a late winner to secure all three points. The match was characterized by its physicality and several yellow cards, with the decisive goal coming from a well-executed set-piece in the final fifteen minutes. The victory was important for Karlovac's hopes of moving into the top half of the table, while the defeat left Cibalia looking nervously over their shoulder near the relegation places. The Karlovac coach highlighted his team's mental strength to win a tight away game.