Croatia and Slovenia football legends play benefit match in Petrinja

Croatia and Slovenia legends (Photo credit: Drago Sopta/HNS)

A humanitarian match between football legends of Croatia and Slovenia to help those earthquake affected by the devastating earthquake on 29 December took place today in Petrinja.

The match took place at the initiative of UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and Croatian Football Federation President Davor Šuker, who both played in the match which ended 2-1 to the Slovenes. 

Before kick-off, UEFA handed over a 50,000 euro donation to the Croatian Red Cross, whilst the Croatian Football Federation handed over a 200,000 kuna donation to the Sisak-Moslavina County Football Association, intended for the reconstruction of the football infrastructure in the earthquake-affected areas.

(Photo credit: Drago Sopta/HNS)

“When I found out about the tragic earthquake in Petrinja and its surroundings, I talked to Davor Šuker and we started thinking about how we could help. Football is solidarity, football is friendship and we agreed to organise this match and for UEFA to donate certain funds. We were joined by the Croatian Football Federation and the Slovenian Football Association led by Radenko Mijatović, I am glad that this humanitarian event was a success,” said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.

(Photo credit: Drago Sopta/HNS)

The Slovenian Football Association also joined in with a 5,000 euro donation to the Mladost football club in Petrinja where the match took place.

(Photo credit: Drago Sopta/HNS)

Davor Šuker would open the scoring from the penalty spot for the Croatian Legends in the 45th minute, before Milivoje Novaković and Milenko Aćimović scored to give Slovenia Legends the win. 

“At the moment when the tragedy happened, the president of UEFA, Alexander Ceferin and I talked and in the first second we agreed on the match in Petrinja, we were only looking for the most suitable date. I would like to thank President Čeferin and the UEFA Executive Board who voted for this donation, and as the president of the Croatian Football Federation, I am glad that we were able to help the Sisak-Moslavina County Association. The ball will always roll, the most important thing is that people in this area get a roof over their heads as soon as possible, and everyone who can help is welcome. The least important thing is who won on the field, we all won in the service of humanity,” said the president of the Croatian Football Federation, Davor Šuker.

Croatia Legends (Photo credit: Drago Sopta/HNS)

Croatia Legends 1 – 2 Slovenia Legends
Petrinja – Mladost Stadium

Goals: 1:0 Šuker (45’-11m), 1:1 Novaković (60’), 1:2 Aćimović (63’)

Croatia Legends: Marijan Mrmić, Stipe Pletikosa, Davor Šuker, Zvonimir Boban, Aljoša Asanović, Ivica Olić, Petar Krpan, Dario Šimić, Darijo Srna, Daniel Šarić, Niko Kranjčar, Igor Bišćan, Boris Živković, Silvio Marić, Mihael Mikić, Nenad Pralija, Tomislav Dujmović, Robert Špehar, Marko Babić, Željko Pavlović.

Slovenia Legends: Robert Volk, Aleksander Čeferin, Primož Gliha, Miran Pavlin, Milivoje Novaković, Milenko Aćimović, Boštjan Cesar, Mišo Brečko, Radenko Mijatović, Aleksandar Radosavljević, Goran Barišić, Tomaž Vesel, Silvo Vrhovec, Andrej Vrhovec, Robert Beguš, Tomislav Čizmić, Mladen Džanan, Branko Ilić, Mitja Sojer, Jože Prelogar, Robert Beguš.