2002–03 Croatian Second Football League

Druga HNL
Season2002–03
ChampionsMarsonia (North Division)
Inker Zaprešić (South Division)
PromotedMarsonia
Inker Zaprešić
RelegatedPodravac
Istra Pula
TŠK Topolovac

The 2002–03 Druga HNL (also known as 2. HNL) season was the 12th season of Croatia's second level football since its establishment in 1992. The league was contested in two regional groups (North Division and South Division), with 12 clubs each.

North Division

First stage

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Marsonia 22 13 7 2 52 18 +34 46 Qualification to play-off group
2 Belišće 22 13 5 4 45 20 +25 44
3 Čakovec 22 11 3 8 35 28 +7 36
4 Koprivnica 22 11 3 8 40 34 +6 36
5 Omladinac Novo Selo Rok 22 9 4 9 33 38 −5 31
6 Sloga Nova Gradiška 22 8 6 8 29 34 −5 30
7 Valpovka 22 8 5 9 44 35 +9 29 Qualification to play-out group
8 Metalac Osijek 22 8 3 11 29 41 −12 27
9 Vukovar '91 22 6 7 9 25 33 −8 25
10 Podravac 22 6 7 9 26 38 −12 25
11 Grafičar Vodovod 22 5 6 11 25 36 −11 21
12 Dilj 22 2 8 12 20 48 −28 14
Source: RSSSF.org
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Play-off Group

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Marsonia (C, P) 32 19 9 4 65 28 +37 66 Qualification to promotion play-off
2 Belišće 32 19 8 5 62 24 +38 65
3 Čakovec 32 13 7 12 44 39 +5 46
4 Omladinac Novo Selo Rok 32 13 6 13 48 52 −4 45
5 Sloga Nova Gradiška 32 12 7 13 41 43 −2 43
6 Koprivnica 32 12 5 15 44 56 −12 41
Source: RSSSF.org
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Play-out Group

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Relegation
7 Metalac Osijek 32 13 4 15 42 56 −14 43
8 Valpovka 32 12 5 15 55 54 +1 41
9 Vukovar '91 32 11 8 13 47 49 −2 41
10 Dilj 32 9 9 14 47 59 −12 36
11 Grafičar Vodovod 32 9 7 16 40 54 −14 34
12 Podravac (R) 32 9 7 16 37 58 −21 34 Relegation to Croatian Third Football League
Source: RSSSF.org
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated

South Division

First stage

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Uljanik 22 15 4 3 45 20 +25 49 Qualification to play-off group
2 Inker Zaprešić 22 15 1 6 53 22 +31 46
3 Solin Građa 22 9 6 7 30 26 +4 33
4 Uskok Klis 22 9 5 8 27 27 0 32
5 Croatia Sesvete 22 8 7 7 28 32 −4 31
6 Hrvatski Dragovoljac 22 9 2 11 33 35 −2 29
7 GOŠK Dubrovnik 22 8 5 9 26 29 −3 29 Qualification to play-out group
8 Imotski 22 6 9 7 22 25 −3 27
9 Novalja 22 6 9 7 22 26 −4 27
10 Istra Pula 22 8 3 11 29 34 −5 27
11 Orijent 22 6 4 12 23 36 −13 22
12 TŠK Topolovac 22 4 3 15 16 42 −26 15
Source: RSSSF.org
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Play-off Group

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Inker Zaprešić (C, P) 32 23 3 6 79 30 +49 72 Qualification to promotion play-off
2 Uljanik 32 20 7 5 63 31 +32 67
3 Uskok Klis 32 13 7 12 48 45 +3 46
4 Croatia Sesvete 32 12 8 12 43 52 −9 44
5 Solin Građa 32 11 8 13 45 47 −2 41
6 Hrvatski Dragovoljac 32 10 4 18 44 63 −19 34
Source: RSSSF.org
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Play-out Group

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
7 GOŠK Dubrovnik 32 12 6 14 36 40 −4 42
8 Orijent 32 12 6 14 36 47 −11 42
9 Novalja 32 10 11 11 33 35 −2 41
10 Imotski 32 10 10 12 30 35 −5 40
11 Istra Pula (R) 32 10 5 17 35 48 −13 35 Qualification to relegation play-off
12 TŠK Topolovac (R) 32 9 5 18 32 51 −19 32 Relegation to Croatian Third Football League
Source: RSSSF.org
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated

Promotion play-off

Marsonia and Inker Zaprešić, winners of the North and South Division, qualified for a two-legged promotion play-off, which took place on 28 May and 1 June 2003. The tie ended in a 4–4 aggregate score and Marsonia won it on away goals, thereby earning promotion to the Prva HNL for the following season.

Inker Zaprešić4 – 3Marsonia
Brlek 3', 5'
Lalić 35' (pen.)
Vidak 90'		 Report
(in Croatian)		 Martinović 28'
Vuka 47' (pen.)
Marić 78'
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Edo Trivković (Split)
Marsonia1 – 0Inker Zaprešić
Šimić 4' Report
(in Croatian)
Gradski stadion uz Savu, Slavonski Brod
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Miroslav Vitković (Vinkovci)

However, Inker had another chance for promotion, as the losing team from the promotion play-off played another two-legged tie against the 11th placed team of Prva HNL, Pomorac. Inker won 3–1 on aggregate and was promoted to 2003–04 Prva HNL.

See also