hajduk edge out haka published: thursday 28 august 2003, 23.00cet hnk hajduk split 1-0 fc haka (agg: 2-2, hajduk win on away goals) croatians overcome spirited finns.
hnk hajduk split fended off a spirited challenge from finnish side fc haka to win by the narrowest of margins at the poljud stadium, claiming a 1-0 win on the night.
crucial away goal the victory meant that the croatian side progressed on away goals after the tie finished level overall, with petar krpan's early goal in hajduk's 2-1 first-leg defeat in finland a fortnight ago proving decisive to earn his side a place in the first round of the uefa cup.
early strike the only goal of the game came in the ninth minute with hajduk's best performer on the night, midfield player dean racunica, finding the target. however, despite establishing an advantage so early in the game, the croatian side then tried to control the pace of proceedings with limited success.
costly miss the finnish visitors enjoyed much the better of the second half and created some meaningful chances, none more so than in the 78th minute when midfield player mikko innanen scooped the ball over the target with only the goalkeeper to beat.
haka: panu toivonen (gk), juuso kangaskorpi, lasse karjalainen, jarkko okkonen, juha pasoja, harri ylönen (c), mikko innanen, jani kauppila, sergei terehhov, tarmo koivuranta (dk. 59 mika nenonen), tommi torkkeli (dk. 83 toni lehtinen)
yedekler: mikko vilmunen (gk), jukka rantala, cheyne fowler, jarno mattila
