Here are the results for April 15-16…
NK Istra 1961 [ 2-1 ] GNK Dinamo Zagreb
After Hajduk’s 3-2 loss to Karlovac earlier in the day, Dinamo knew they would only need three points to capture yet another Prva Liga title. So how did Dinamo lose 2-1 to a poor Istra side in their brand-new stadium? By not wanting to win it on the road. With a win next week against NK Osijek at Maksimir Stadion in Zagreb, Dinamo Zagreb will earn their sixth straight Croatian Prva Liga title. Why not win it in front of your home fans (or lack thereof)?
NK Hajduk Split [ 2-3 ] Karlovac
Goran Vučević sacked by Hajduk
After Hajduk’s 2-0 loss to Dinamo weeks ago, grasp of the Prva Liga title faded away as the Splićani knew they would finish second and settle for a spot in the Europa League second round qualifying. However, the wheels are quickly falling off the bus in Split. Hajduk sacked coach Goran Vučević after the 3-2 home loss to Karlovac Saturday and now only find themselves seven points in front of third place Inter with five games left in the season. Can Hajduk finish the season off strong with no coach at the helm (for the moment)?
HNK Šibenik [ 2-0 ] NK Zadar
(Hrvoje Jelavić/PIXSELL) Šibenik fans show their support for Gotovina
(Hrvoje Jelavić/PIXSELL) Zadar fans on the same page
NK Osijek [ 1-0 ] Rnk Split
Arhiva/ Osijek fans going Marines on us?
Rnk Split had their European dreams put on check Saturday as a 1-0 loss to Osijek drops them to fourth place in the Prva Liga table, one point behind Inter. Osijek travel to Zagreb next weekend to take on five-time reigning Croatian champs Dinamo Zagreb. With a win, Dinamo will make it six-time champs. Can Osijek delay the inevitable?
NK Zagreb [ 2-2 ] NK Varteks
(Ranko Šuvar/CROPIX) NK Zagreb vs. Varteks
NK Lokomotiva [ 0-0 ] NK Rijeka
Inter Zaprešić [ 3-2 ] Hrvatski Dragovoljac
Cibalia Vinkovci [ 1-2 ] Slaven Belupo
HNL TABLE THROUGH 25 MATCHES
~Ante Kvartuč reporting from Beat The Sharks, CA
@jerseyCro,
It would be nice to see Stanley at Hajduk again. AT least it would make the HNL a tad more interesting.
Ante Mise is the new Hajduk manager, he gets another chance. Its amazing how these coaches come and go at Hajduk, it wouldn't surprise me if Poklepovic returns next season lol
I keep laughing at Hajduk, congrats to Karlovac. Vucevic probably deserved to be sacked but the blame also must go to the uprava and the lousy players which somehow 2-3 keep getting called into the NT. The uprava was too busy trying to schedule friendly matches with Barcelona and Manchester United rather than finding players
Dinamo, it was a bad game and Istra are a desperate team compared to Dinamo. It is also no coincidence that they concede two goals without Tonel at the back. They pressed too late, but could have equalized if Rukavina was a better finisher. Not the end of the world, they win the title next week in front of 1,500 people
Inter and Split will battle for third place (Europa League). Inter have an exciting young team but the question is can they hold on to these players? Split I think might be able to hold on to their players, either way I don't expect anything more than 1-2 qualifying rounds from them