L'Oriente ha perso convincente contro l'Istria nel 1961, Ilicic ha pareggiato, i Pugliesi hanno ribaltato con tre gol in 13 minuti.

Istra 1961 defeated Orijent 5–2 in a friendly football match held at the Gradska Stadion “Aldo Drosina” in Pula. The game saw a dominant performance from the home side, with three goals scored within a 13-minute window late in the second half. The final score was 5–2 in favour of Istra 1961, with 300 spectators present at the venue. The match was officiated by Sandi Skrletović from Novigrad, assisted by Taranić and Beniković, both from Pula. The first goal came just three minutes into the game, when Šaranić passed the ball forward to Ahmeti, who fired it into the net. In the eighth minute, Bangura added a second for Istra 1961 after receiving a cross from the right wing, scoring despite the goalkeeper’s attempt to clear. Orijent responded quickly, with Miroslav Iličić equalizing in the 20th minute following a corner kick. The score remained 2–2 until the 54th minute, when Iličić once again found the back of the net to restore parity. In the second half, Istra 1961 took control of the game and extended their lead. In the 57th minute, Ukich scored his first goal of the match, followed by Frederiksen from a free-kick in the 62nd minute. Miettinen completed the rout with a goal in the 70th minute, sealing the victory for the hosts. Orijent managed to reduce the deficit twice, but could not prevent the final result. Istra 1961's starting XI included players such as Paus-Kunšt, Taraba, Nasraoui, Kumar, Celija, Kablar, Albarracin, Šaranić, Ahmeti, Goričan, and Bangura. Several substitutions were made during the match, including replacements for Albarracin, Šaranić, and others. Orijent fielded a squad featuring Marić, Majdandžić, Prpić, Zubović, Garić, Iličić, Andrijašević, Valinčić, Bilajac, Šare, and Tadejević. Additional players who entered the game later included Vučetić, Stašić, Ćumurdžić, Lissouck, Vinarš, Peček, Matić, Živković, and Radaić. The match began with Istra 1961 taking an early lead, as Šaranić delivered a pass to Ahmeti, who scored the opening goal. Bangura doubled the advantage shortly after, capitalising on a defensive error. Orijent’s response came through Iličić, who scored two goals in quick succession to bring the teams level. The second half saw Istra 1961 dominate, with Ukich, Frederiksen, and Miettinen contributing to the final tally. Orijent’s efforts to mount a comeback were ultimately unsuccessful. The game featured several key moments, including a missed opportunity by Orijent’s goalkeeper, a close-range shot by Iličić, and a crucial clearance by Šaranić. The attacking play from Istra 1961 was relentless, particularly in the latter stages of the match, leading to their decisive goals. The final whistle marked a convincing win for the home team, with the scoreboard reading 5–2 in their favour.