Hajduk Split suffered defeat in its first head-to-head showdown with Dinamo Zagreb last weekend, but Rokas Pukstas played the hero on Friday in the latest meeting in the Eternal Derby.
Pukstas scored a 93rd minute winner for Ivan Leko’s squad in a 2-1 HNL triumph to start off the new Croatian league campaign. The U.S. under-20 men’s national team midfielder enjoyed a positive 2022-23 season with Hajduk Split and started off his new season on a positive note at Stadion Maksimir.
Bruno Petkovic boosted the hosts in front 1-0 after 35 minutes but Dinamo Zagreb fought back to tie things up midway through the second half.
Fellow Croatian international Marko Livaja made it 1-1 after scoring his first goal of the new campaign. With both clubs seeking a winning goal, it was Pukstas who delivered for the visitors.
The 18-year-old midfielder powered home a header from a corner kick to give Hajduk Split a dramatic opening night victory against its biggest rivals.
Pukstas won five of his 11 duels in the match while also making three tackles and completing 84% of his passes. The Oklahoma native made 26 first team appearances last season, totaling four goals and three assists in all competitions.
Hajduk Split will next host Rijeka on July 30 in its home opener.
Another talented midfielder doing really well. Hopefully he sees more time centrally this season. Still don’t know why Varas decided not to start Pukstas against Uruguay. Both him and Paredes had been with the team for 10 days at that point.
Seems to have a knack for getting his head on a cross. According to roster sheets they were playing him as an 8 but maybe moved out to the RW. His SofaScore heat map had him out on the right touch line a lot and way up field.