NK Zadar 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb
Photo: Andrija Lučić/Cropix
Zadar’s Ivan Santini (19) celebrates winner vs. Dinamo
NK Zadar have slain yet another Croatian giant- this time Dinamo Zagreb. After defeating Hajduk Split earlier in the season, Zadar came from behind Friday night to beat the current Croatian champions at Stadion Stanovi. With a Champions League clash against Dutch club Ajax in their sites Tuesday, Dinamo got off to a quick start as Montenegrin Fatos Beqiraj got a toe off a Tonel cross in the 15′ to give Dinamo the early lead. However, Zadar hung tough and equalized the match in the 39′ when Luka Begonja picked up the rebound off his own shot to slot home the equalizer after Dinamo keeper Ivan Kelava couldn’t force the initial shot out far enough.
Current Prva Liga goal-scoring leader Ivan Santini put away the game winner in the second half when he scored off a free kick from 25 yards out off the left post. Santini immediately took his shirt off and ran halfway across the field, where he was mobbed by teammates. Santini still leads the Prva Liga with nine goals. Dinamo fielded a strong team and should have grabbed all three points with the talent they had on the pitch. They now only have a four-point lead on Hajduk in the Croatian table but have a pivotal Champions League match with Ajax at Maksimir on Tuesday, 2:45PM (ET).
Hajduk Split 3-1 NK Osijek
With Hajduk knowing that Dinamo lost Friday night, a win versus Osijek on Saturday would put the Splićani only four points behind the Croatian champions. Anas Sharbini hit the crossbar in the 10th minute but had Ante Vukušić clean up the rebound with a strong shot on an open goal to put Hajduk up 1-0. Osijek equalized 19 minutes later when Goran Ljubojević was left wide open for a header following a corner. Vukušić scored his second of the match in the 37′ when he went up for a header against the Osijek goalkeeper, only to have the ball drop right down to him for an easy tap-in goal. Osijek’s Marko Babić had a chance to tie the game up in the second half but he couldn’t beat Danijel Subašić on a break away. Marin Tomasov capped off a 3-1 victory for Hajduk when he slotted a shot to the lower-right corner of goal after Osijek failed to clear the ball. Hajduk are now only four points behind Dinamo while Osijek fall down to sixth place.
NK Rijeka 2-0 Rnk Split
Rnk Split could not manage to keep pace with city rivals Hajduk Split while taking advantage of Dinamo’s loss as they were defeated 2-0 by NK Rijeka Sunday night. Rijeka broke the deadlock in the 41′ when Sandi Križman’s free kick from the left side went straight into goal without being touched by any of the traffic in front of the net. The game was uneventful for majority of the second half until injury time, when Rijeka cleared the ball out to midfield where Rnk Split goalie Andrija Vuković collided heads with his own defender and gave Valentino Stepčić one of the easiest goals he will score in his life as the ball trickled down field and into net. Rijeka remain at mid-table while Split drop three points behind Hajduk for third place.
NK Lokomotiva 0-0 Slaven Belupo
Photo: Drago Sopta
No action in Zagreb Friday night
Lokomotiva and Slaven Belupo played out an uneventful scoreless match Friday night from Maksimir Stadion in Zagreb. With the point, Slaven Belupo move up the table in a tie for fifth place with 18 points while Lokomotiva remain on the brink of relegation. Lokomotiva started the season hot but have now cooled down to the team we all expected them to be; trying to survive to stay in the Prva Liga next season.
HNK Šibenik 3-0 Cibalia Vinkovci
Photo:Niksa Stipancev/CroPix
The shirts were coming off for Šibenik on Saturday
Šibenik easily took care of Cibalia 3-0 with goals from Stipe Bačelić-Grgić, Dražen Jelić and Antonio Jakoliš. It was Sibenik’s second win of the season earning them their ninth point; still not good enough to get them out of relegation trouble. Cibalia hold onto 13 points which has them hover at the bottom half of the table. There is still work to be done.
NK Istra 1961 0-1 NK Zagreb
Photo:Niksa Stipancev/CroPix
Zagreb got what they needed, late
All NK Zagreb needed Saturday was one goal to defeat Istra at Aldo Drosina Stadium in Pula. The goal came by Lovro Medić in the 88th minute giving Zagreb all three points at the death. With the victory, Zagreb climb to fourth spot in the Croatian table, only two points behind Split for the last Europa League berth. Istra continues to struggle and remain in the relegation zone.
NK Varaždin 0-1 Karlovac
No love for Varaždin
Enes Novinić scored the lone goal of the game for Karlovac Saturday in the 41st minute to give Varaždin their 10th loss of the season through 11 rounds. With the win, Karlovac move one point behind safety in the HNL table while Varaždin are stuck on only one point; as they have only scored four goals this season.
Lučko 2-0 Inter Zaprešić
Lučko got three important points on Saturday as they defeated Inter 2-0 with a double from midfielder Elvis Sarić; a goal in each half. Inter’s Filip Ščrbec made life easier for Lučko as he received his second caution of the game in the 50th minute and was sent off. The win earns Lučko their ninth point of the season and some momentum on a possible move out of the relegation zone. Inter remain at mid-table with the loss.
HNL TABLE THROUGH GAMES ENDING OCTOBER 16TH, 2011
@dukic
Trebamo pare da mozemo vrati se nazat u ljepu nasu. Bravo Zadar ne se sad misli purgeri!!!
If any of you can tell me that the match fix is not a possibility (after knowing Mamic and Sinovcic met to discuss the game, also look at the coefficient), I will tell you where baka hides her treasure.
Eh, Honestly, I don’t want Kovacic playing tomorrow. He’s like what, 17? These games put a lot of pressure on 17 year olds. Give him a couple more years and then we can really start counting on him.
RE: goalkeepers
@IvicA – I’ve brought up Kresic a few times earlier this year (probably around the same time I mentioned calling up Goran Blazevic…). Anyway he’s good and has potential. Something to look out for.
Ante B, come on man.
Is it that unfathomable for Dinamo to fall asleep one night and lose a game? Dinamo’s record is like 9-1-1. They’re not going to go through a 30-game season without at least one loss.
If the Toronto Raptors in their expansion year could beat a 72-10 Bulls team, then I’m pretty sure Dinamo could lose to Zadar.
ante bbb. stop complaining!
Pa kako vi ne kuzite da je tekma bila namjestana is beyond me. Pa ljudi moji, zar nije vam cudno da je jedan Zadar uspio pobjediti protiv Hajduka i Dinama, pogotov kada su Sinovcic i Mamic u pitanju!? One man’s cheat is another’s victory. Dinamo definitely didn’t come to play because Ajax was 200% on their mind. Also, Kovacic is out for Ajax as well.
Nice to see Hajduk close the gap. Dinamo have Ajax on their minds and there is still a looooooooong loooooong HNL season in front of us. Hajduk will have the luxury of playing less games than Dinamo, especially if Dinamo finishes third in champs league and finishes up in Europa League. Still, I dont see Hajduk challenging for the title, but they can finishing within single digits of Dinamo. That would be an accomplishment.
@Ivica
Yes, I have my eye on Vukusic as well. I wish Keleva well. Hopefully, he can be our keeper in the future. However, no chance he starts over Pletikosa. Hopefully, Stipe stays healthy by 11.11.11.
Yea, statistically, Vukusic has actually improved this season. The goal rate will obviously go down (nobody can maintain a 1.5 goal per game rate), but hopefully he continues to develop and gets sold to a team that is willing to start and play him. I liked the rumours to Lyon, because they are not a team that would spend millions on a non-EU player to simply have riding the pine even if he has a bad game or two (ie. Lovren). We need a team in a higher level league that is willing to go through the growing pains of developing Vukusic.
RE: Croatian goaltenders…
How come you guys never cover Dario Kresic’s highlights?
I keeps seeing Plete/Kelava/Subasic…even Varvodic once, but I never hear Kresic’s name brought up ever, and he’s one of the few Croatian starting goalies that play in decent leagues. You guys gotta give him some exposure. Everyone knows Bilic reads CSR.
ZADAR!!!!
Nice free kick by Santini. It’s good to see we have another relatively young striker that could be an up-and-comer. Too bad he’s already like 22.
What’s even better is that 20-year old Ante Vukusic has scored himself a couple goals. Statistically, Vukusic’s goal rate is EXCELLENT and he’ll easily be the leading scorer in this year’s HNL. The guy managed five goals in 320 minutes played (in an injury-plagued season). Hopefully, he can continue to grow and become a striker for the repka. I’m counting on this kid.
On another note, Kelava was very disappointing.
zadar zauvik!! koje srce ovi mladici imaju. jebes pare kad imas srce.
A great win by hajduk, to close the gap. But its obvious dinamos thoughts are on ajax.
Man, varteks form this year is going from bad to worse.