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Varaždin led 1-0 against Slaven Belupo for much of the match at the Varteks Stadium before falling behind late in the second half, ending the SuperSport HNL fixture with a 2-1 defeat for the visitors. The result occurred during Matchday 11 of the Croatian top flight, a contest described locally as the Northern Derby. Varaždin had entered the game with one more match played than second-placed Dinamo Zagreb, meaning a victory would have allowed them to overtake their rivals in the standings. Instead, Slaven Belupo, managed by Silvijo Čabraja, conceded early due to a defensive error but equalized in the 66th minute before taking the lead in the 70th. The decisive moment arrived in the sixth minute of play. Luka Posinković delivered a cross from the right side into the box. Visiting goalkeeper Karlo Sentić attempted to claim the ball, which appeared to be a straightforward catch. However, he fumbled the effort, allowing the ball to slip through his hands and deflect directly toward Yuri Tavares. Tavares tapped the loose ball into the empty net to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage. Commentators noted the error was severe, with one broadcaster jokingly referencing Black Friday sales occurring a month earlier. Slaven Belupo struggled to find rhythm in the opening period. In the 24th minute, they created another chance following a defensive mistake. Ante Kovačić attempted to head the ball back to Sentić but struck it poorly, placing it near the feet of Nikola Latković. Latković entered the penalty area and fired, striking the outside of the net. The visiting team received two yellow cards in the final minutes of the first half. Josip Mitrović was booked for a foul on Posinković, while coach Čabraia was sent off the touchline after protesting a decision regarding a foul committed by his player Adeshina on Canjuga. Referee Ante Terzić, officiating from Podstrana, awarded one minute of added time before the break. The second half began with a substitution for the home side, as Puclin replaced Bočkaj. For several minutes, neither team generated significant pressure. In the 41st minute of the first half, just before halftime, Mamić had cut inside on the left and crossed low into the box. Sentić again reacted poorly to the threat, parrying the ball to Latković who failed to connect cleanly, hitting teammate Bočkaj instead. The rebound fell to Canjuga, whose shot from 18 meters went wide. In the second half, Slaven Belupo remained passive until the 64th minute. Mihail Caimacov entered the game for Bošnjak, marking his first appearance since December 20, 2025. Two minutes later, in the 66th minute, the visitors found an equalizer. Nestorovski received the ball on the edge of the six-yard box, surrounded by three defenders. He turned and laid it off to Mitrović, who ran onto the pass and struck a precise shot from 18 meters to make it 1-1. A video assistant referee review confirmed the goal stood. Immediately after the equalizer, both teams made changes. Varaždin brought on Vuk and Lesjak for Tavares and Posinković. The momentum shifted rapidly. In the 70th minute, following a header in the middle third of the pitch, the ball fell to Banovec inside the penalty area. Banovec finished the move to put Slaven Belupo ahead 2-1. Earlier in the second half, Tavares had been booked for a late challenge on Kruselj in the 54th minute. Nestorovski also tested the home keeper Josip Silić with a long-range effort in the 63rd minute, which sailed past the target after Silić’s initial reaction was deemed poor. Another attempt by Nestorowski, a header from close range in the 61st minute, was saved comfortably by Silić. Karlo Sentić’s return to the starting lineup marked a shift in personnel for Slaven Belupo. The former Hajduk Split goalkeeper had sat on the bench for three consecutive matches against Rudeš, Rijeka, and Dinamo, during which Ivan Čović started. Čović conceded five goals against Dinamo, prompting coach Čabraja to revert to Sentić. Sentić’s last competitive appearance prior to this match was mid-September against Hajduk at the Poljud stadium. His career at Hajduk ended amid conflict with manager Ivan Leko in the 2022-23 season. Sentić has publicly recounted an incident during preseason preparations in Istria where Leko pointed at him in front of the squad and stated he was only there because all other goalkeepers were injured. That friction contributed to his departure from the club. The match featured numerous fouls and interruptions. In the 34th minute, a minor altercation broke out between Nestorovski and Mladenovski, though it was quickly resolved. Varaždin maintained possession in large parts of the game, creating multiple chances around the box, particularly through crosses from the flanks. Despite the early goal, the home side failed to extend their lead, leaving them vulnerable to the counterattack that decided the match. The final score reflected the late surge by the visitors, who secured points away from home despite the early setback caused by the goalkeeper’s error.