Varela scores in the 96’ minute to force a 1-1 draw vs. Malmo in Sweden. The draw moves Dinamo to 4th place in the Europa League table three matches into the campaign (7 points through 3 games). A fine start for Dinamo indeed. They are certainly on pace to finish top-24 and play in the knockout rounds after the new year.
Let’s see if Mario Kovačević and his boys can keep the European momentum going. Remember, after Malmo, the competition will get a bit stiffer. Dinamo still have to play two La Liga sides in Celta Vigo and Real Betis. They also have to travel to France to take on Lille.
Shamrock Rovers 0-2 Celje
My word, Franko Kovacevic delivers again… not 1 but 2 goals and this after his hattrick against AEK in the previous round. All in, I believe he has scored than 20 goals this season already? Although I know some of them were scored in the European qualifying matches and no idea how many are penalties. I remember looking at the Slovenian league table recently and Celje are runaway leaders already. This guy is a puzzle to me.
***
@Cro911
croatiansports.com/rumor-mill-kovacic-could-join-modric-at-ac-milan/#comments/521016
The previous coach (whatchamacallit Farioli?) seemed to have done a good job aside from that collapse at the end of last season which caused Ajax to miss out on the league title. In an interview sometime during the first half of season 2024-25, Sutalo said Farioli wanted him to be the leader in defense and that he constantly communicated with Farioli. I’m almost certain Sutalo preferred working with Farioli (who reportedly wanted to bring Sutalo over to Porto during the summer). So far, Ajax isn’t doing well under Heitinga and this coaching change could be another reason for Sutalo’s dip in form along with that early season injury.
***
@Anonymous
croatiansports.com/rumor-mill-kovacic-could-join-modric-at-ac-milan/#comments/521014
Have to admit I’m a total noob when it comes to house and techno, but I’m on it… enjoying it so far tbh hehe.
Shamrock Rovers 0-2 Celje
My word, Franko Kovacevic delivers again… not 1 but 2 goals and this after his hattrick against AEK in the previous round. All in, I believe he has scored than 20 goals this season already? Although I know some of them were scored in the European qualifying matches and no idea how many are penalties. I remember looking at the Slovenian league table recently and Celje are runaway leaders already. This guy is a puzzle to me.
***
@Cro911
https://croatiansports.com/rumor-mill-kovacic-could-join-modric-at-ac-milan/#comments/521016
The previous coach (whatchamacallit Farioli?) seemed to have done a good job aside from that collapse at the end of last season which caused Ajax to miss out on the league title. In an interview sometime during the first half of season 2024-25, Sutalo said Farioli wanted him to be the leader in defense and that he constantly communicated with Farioli. I’m almost certain Sutalo preferred working with Farioli (who reportedly wanted to bring Sutalo over to Porto during the summer). So far, Ajax isn’t doing well under Heitinga and this coaching change could be another reason for Sutalo’s dip in form along with that early season injury.
***
@Anonymous
https://croatiansports.com/rumor-mill-kovacic-could-join-modric-at-ac-milan/#comments/521014
Have to admit I’m a total noob when it comes to house and techno, but I’m on it… enjoying it so far tbh hehe.
Shame that Dinamo couldn’t pull out the victory.
Bakrar’s chip into goal was very smooth under pressure. Nice equalizer.
Varela is a talented but kinda dumb player. Tried to get his foot on Bakrar’s ball, which would’ve been ruled an offside goal if he touched it with his foot. Luckily he missed and it went in.
TBH im not sure he did in fact miss it, but hey its a goal now so all’s well that ends well i spose. Dinamo prolly deserved to win but good on em getting such a late goal to get a draw at least. Curious game really.
Watched the reply a few times and I’m not sure that Varela missed the ball? Looked offside? I guess we have to trust VAR.
It was tough to penetrate that Malmo defence. Dinamo seemed the better team, but couldn’t create dangerous scoring chances.
I thought Vidovic had some jump when he came on as a sub. Moves the ball well. Made one creative pass, threading it through the defence. Would like to see him get a little more playing time . . . .
Stojkovic was good as a sub . . . . Might have been different if they had started him. Should he look to move to a top eight league or stay put in the HNL with Dinamo? What do people see as to his longer term prospects to become a national team player?
Stojkovic is more talented than Dejan Ljubicic and Miha Zajc.
However, these two guys are playing pretty decent and (for whatever reason) Kovacevic wants to stick with them as starters.
I think both Stojkovic and Bakrar should somehow be starters. They’re both very impactful players.
Dinamo has a lot of talent on the bench with Stojkovic, Bakrar, Kulenovic, Mudrazija, Soldo, Varela, Galesic, Vidovic, etc.
Poor Mudrazija can’t get a minute and was one of the HNL’s best players last season. Soldo was a solid starter for Osijek too, Galesic for Rijeka…and neither are even playing this season. Villar comes over from Spain, and also zero minutes.
I don’t really care about the Villar types not playing (foreign guys or vets)…but it does bother me that Kovacevic isn’t giving regular minutes to these young future NT prospects like Stojkovic and Soldo.
Soldo should have stayed at Osijek. Thank God that Jagusic stayed at Slaven Belupo. Dinamo needs to loan out guys like Stojkovic, Soldo and even Vidovic.
Extra care should be taken with potential NT players.