Here are the results for August 19-21…
Hajduk Split [ 4-0 ] Zagreb
Photo: Sportske Novosti
Hajduk celebrate a 4-0 win over NK Zagreb Sunday night
Hajduk Split held serve with their Croatian rivals and current undefeated leaders of the Prva Liga, Dinamo Zagreb, with a 4-0 win over NK Zagreb Sunday night from Poljud. Hajduk hit the ground running as Marin Tomasov scored in the first minute of play. In the 30′, ‘Man of the Match’ Ahmad Sharbini scored his first of two on the night, with the other coming in the 52nd minute. There was absolutely no fight from a Zagreb side that looked like they had plans after the match. In the 34′, Zagreb defender Mladen Pelaić was sent off with a straight red, which made things even easier for Hajduk down the stretch. It is not known why he received the red as the cameraman did not catch it live and no replays were shown.
Tonći Kukoč capped off a 4-0 night for Hajduk in the 59′. Zagreb’s highlight of the night was hitting the crossbar in the first half but nothing came after that. With the win, Hajduk remain three points behind Dinamo, who have yet to concede a goal this season.
HAJDUK-NK ZAGREB HIGHLIGHTS
NK Osijek [ 0-4 ] Dinamo Zagreb
Photo: Dorian Horvat/Cropix
Mario Šitum celebrates after scoring against Osijek
Dinamo Zagreb didn’t let a run into Champions League affect their complete domination on the young HNL season Saturday night. Hometown boy Domagoj Vida returned to Osijek for the first time since leaving the club for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2010, helping Dinamo post a shutout against his former team. Dinamo looked like they were in a hurry to get to Sweden as they made quick work of Osijek, scoring fours goals in the first half hour of the game to easily win 4-0. The Dinamo attackers played with the Osijek defense, putting numerous through-balls and crosses in with ease.
Ivan Tomečak got the party started as he slid in for a back-post cross in the 4th minute to give Dinamo a 1-0 lead. Mario Šitum then scored two goals off of tap-ins in the 10th and 25th minutes before 17 year-old ‘wunderkind’ Mateo Kovačić scored off a trash ball in front of a messy Osijek net in the 30′. Dinamo could have easily scored another four; but will now head to Sweden where they will meet Malmo FF on Tuesday in the second leg of their Champions League playoff encounter. Dinamo will represent Croatia in the Champions League group stage for the first time in 12 years, barring a 3-0 or worse defeat in Sweden. Is it time to celebrate or should we hold our breaths, just in case?
OSIJEK: Kardum – Šorša, Smoje, Gavrić, Lukačević – Vidaković, Kvržić, Babić – Miličević, Špehar – Ljubojević
DINAMO: Kelava – Vrsaljko, Cufre, Vida, Ibanez – Calello, Badelj, Kovačić, Šitum – Tomečak, Beqiraj
Dinamo-Osijek Full Match Highlights
Lokomotiva [ 0-0 ] Rijeka
Photo: Ivan Klindić/CROPIX
Rijeka-Lokomotiva
Lokomotiva hosted a strong Rijeka side at Maksimir Friday night in front of only 200 people. Rijeka’s Andro Švrljuga hit the post off a free kick from 30 yards out right before the halftime whistle, which was the best chance of the game for either side. Rijeka again hit the crossbar moments before final time with a header from a corner. The game had minimal scoring chancing and ultimately ended 0-0. Lokomotiva now have three wins and two draws to open the season and are the only team besides Dinamo Zagreb to remain unbeaten. How long can Dinamo’s feeder club keep this up?
Rijeka 0-0 Lokomotiva
Slaven Koprivnica [ 3-2 ] Inter Zaprešic
Photo: Marijan Sušenj/Pixsell
Inter Zaprešić-Slaven Koprivnica
Slaven Belupo mimicked a Dinamo start on Friday as they scored three goals in the first 29 minutes of play against Inter. Tomislav Bušić, Stjepan Poljak and Goran Mujanović all found the net in Slaven’s quick start but Inter’s Filip Ščrbec got one on the board just before halftime to make it 3-1. With Slaven Belupo failing to score in the second half, Inter could have made it a game with another goal. However, that second goal came too late as Cameroonian Armand Yankep bagged Inter’s second goal in injury time. With the win, Slaven slip into the top-four while Inter remain at mid-table.
Karlovac [ 2-2 ] Cibalia Vinkovci
Photo: Ronald Goršić/Cropix
Cibalia Vinkovci-Karlovac
Karlovac were stunned on Saturday as they went into halftime up 2-0 at home versus Cibalia; but ended up drawing 2-2. Željko Kovačević opened up the scoring in the 38′ before teammate Enes Novinić doubled the lead in the 43′ for Karlovac. Cibalia looked down and out but finally got on the board in the 49′ when Krešimir Prgomet cut the lead in half. The game would stay that way until Cibalia’s Vlatko Šimunac bagged an injury time equalizer to force the 2-2 draw.
KARLOVAC: Lovrić – Kovačević, Leko, Barišić, Dedić – Stambolija, Husić, Kutleša – Novaković, Štefančić – Novinić
CIBALIA: Mašić – Radotić, Lučić, Parmaković, Župarić – Vitaić, Jurić, Mazalović – Bartolović – Kresinger, Koledić
Lučko [ 1-2 ] Split
Photo: Boris Kovačev/Cropix
Split-Lučko
Rnk Split skimmed by newly promoted Lučko on Saturday with goals from two former Hajduk Split players. Former Croatian international defender Ivica Križanac got the first goal of the game in the fourth minute of play. Lučko quickly equalized three minutes later when Leopold Novak bagged a goal for his Zagreb side. The gamed remained tied at 1-1 until the 84′ when Duje Čop scored to give Split the 2-1 win and all three points. Split sit on eight points through the first five games of the season while Lučko still have only one.
LUČKO: Kovačić – Rogač, Žižić, Andre Silva, Rendulić – Mehmedagić, Blagojević – Rak, Jelić, Šarić – Novak
SPLIT: Vuković – Marčić, Milović, Križanac, Rašić – Šimić, Erceg, Vitaić – Obilinović, Baraban, Čop.
Varaždin [ 2-2 ] Istra 1961
Photo: Željko Hajdinjak/Cropix
Istra 1961-Varaždin
It took NK Varaždin five games, but they finally got their first point of the season Saturday night. Last year’s Croatian Cup runners-up, Varaždin had a fantastic Europa League campaign, making it all the way to the third qualifying round before being bounced by Romanian club Dinamo Bucharest. It showed in their HNL play as they lost four straight games to start the season. Istra got on the board quickly as Henry Belle scored in just the second minute of play. Josip Golubar equalized for Varazdin in the 15′ before goalkeeper Denis Krklec brought down an Istra player in the box in the 41′. Mateo Sušić stepped up to the spot and made it 2-1 Istra. However, Varaždin striker Dominik Glavina would score in the 68′ to force a 2-2 draw and finally get his club on the HNL table with a lonely point.
VARAŽDIN: Krklec – Šimek, Lončar, Sušac, Gluhak – Grgec, Golubar – Glavica, Sačer, Glavina – Vugrinec
ISTRA 1961: Mance – Sušić, Karabatić, Budicin, Milić – Anđelković, Prahić – Jazvić, Alimi, Belle – Grbić
Šibenik [ 1-1 ] Zadar
Photo: Paun Paunović/Cropix
Zadar-Šibenik
Zadar was looking good against Šibenik on Saturday as Luka Begonja scored in the 33′ to give Zadar a 1-0 lead going into halftime. In the second half, the wheels temporarily fell off the bus for a second as Šibenik was awarded a penalty kick in the 69′. Dražen Jelić converted the penalty to equalize the match at 1-1 and ultimately force a draw to chop the points. Zadar currently sit at mid-table while Šibenik still have some work to do to make their season successful.
ŠIBENIK: Blažević – Golub, Fuštar, Kartelo, Medvid – Husmani, Čulić – Jakoliš, Bačelić-Grgić, Vuk – Jelić
ZADAR: Ježina – Jonjić, Con, Bilen – Bilaver, Banović, Surać, Vasilj – Mršić, Begonja – Santini
HNL TABLE THROUGH 5 MATCHES
~Denis Svirčić and Ante Kvartuč reporting from CSR Headquarters in Los Angeles
not at all convinced with vida. simunic would be solid in the back.
what stream do you folks watch these games on??
Ibricic is not returning to Hajduk…his agent said there is a better chance Sammir signs for Hajduk, so take that for what its worth
Simunic once again linked with Hajduk & Dinamo, honestly, he wouldn't be a starter at Dinamo unless politics get involved. I'm content with the Vida-Tonel partnership.
Klasnic scored! against man city
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH6JpkOE6RM
RE: Ibro looking to return to Hajduk…
This is the most encouraging news from Hajduk I've seen since the season began. I hope it materializes, as Hajduk would instantly be better.
Hajduk highlights…
http://ifootballvideo.blogspot.com/2011/08/hajduk-4-0-zagreb-hnl-highlights.html
Chelsea have signed Mata and Redknapp thinks the chase is off for Luka. Not sure what to think of it
that could be a sign the deal is close and Chelsea has requested that he not play to avoid injury.
That's sad to see especially with him scoring for the 1st time this week.
Redknapp says Modric not playing tomorrow because "his head isn't in the right place". Disappointing to see considering Nasri played this weekend.
Olic injured out 6-8 weeks
http://www.fcbayern.telekom.de/en/news/news/2011/30768.php
Fantasy league…. Ante #1, Denis #2… good for business.
What the hell happened to Osijek? 4 goals in 30 minutes from Dinamo's youth team, thats embarrassing. Osijek fans riot before and after the match.
Hajduk interested in Simunic and returning Ibricic.
Klasnic currently highest scoring player throughout Fantasy League
I saw the ballot for Sammir playing for Croatia, but know next to nothing about him. What are his National Team credentials? Being good enough doesn't cut it.
Hajduk has no chance boys. Take off the homer glasses. This league was over after week 1.
Hajduk has no chance against Dinamo, you got to be kidding me. Are your drunk or do you have the Hajduk goggles on? In all seriousness, how can you write that? What gives you any indication that Hajduk have a chance against Dinamo and to finish 1st in the league?
i think problem of hajduk is they keep selling players…strinic ibrcic bujlat etc..with these players…they still have chance against dinamo
Dinamo pretty much played a reserve side with a few regulars and still won 4:0 in Osijek, a place where Hajduk will probably drop points. If they take the league seriously throughout, I cannot see them dropping points more than 2-3 times this season
Tomecak, Situm, Kovacic scored…when will Hajduk develop some players half as good as these? Thats the problem…