It was a rough kickoff for Croatian teams in the Europa League group stages today, as both clubs, Dinamo Zagreb and HNK Rijeka, fell in their first group stage matches today.
Dinamo were heavy favorites in their match that was played at Maksimir today against Ukraine’s FC Chornomorets Odesa.
Just over 5,000 fans came to cheer on Dinamo, but watched them struggle in the match.
Junior Fernandes eased the nerves of fans and teammates when he put Dinamo up late in the first half, but Chornomorets tied the game with a free header from inside the box not long after the restart of the second half.
Only a few minutes later, a similar goal was scored to put the visitors up 2-0. Dinamo was unable to answer back with a goal and dropped three points that they were expected to easily take for themselves.
“I am very sad over this, primarily because of the fans and the people at the club who worked so hard and so long to get this far,” Dinamo coach Branko Ivanković said. “I am especially sorry because we lost a match against a weaker opponent, especially after a brilliant first half.”
This was Ivanković’s European debut with Dinamo after Kruno Jurčić was relieved of his duties after the home-loss against Austria Wien in the play off round of the Champions League.
Nobody had answers for why Dinamo was unable to come up with the win.
“I can not explain what happened, we have no excuse, we’re all disappointed,” Arijan Ademi said. “In the first half, we destroyed them, crushed them. Then in the second half we got out there and … I do not know what happened, they hit the post and they scored two goals … it reminded us of the goals from Hajduk.”
Dinamo will play Ludogorets in Razgrad on Oct. 3 for the second match in the group stage.
Dinamo-Chornomorets Highlights
Dinamo’s fellow Prva Liga team, HNK Rijeka faired even worse than their Croatian counterparts.
Rijeka made it to the group stages after a thrilling and historic win over the Bundasliga’s Stuttgart, but went into today’s match as underdogs against Vitória Guimarães from Portugal.
Rijeka has been extremely impressive as of late, but were easily routed by the Portuguese.
A goal in the first half and three in the second were more than enough to send Rijeka home without any points.
“When you make individual errors, then we will have a problem. One positive outcome of the game was Vargić. He was our best player,” Rijeka coach Matjaž Kek said. “Congratulations Vitoria for their deserved victory…I do not want to spend too much time analyzing the game. We must now focus on Sunday’s match against Istra in Pula.”
Rijeka will face La Liga’s Real Betis in their next group stage match on Oct. 3.
Vitoria puts 4 in the back of the net vs. Rijeka
It’s no surprise Dinamo Zagreb lost at home as heavy favourites they have done that in the past a few times. They lost to a Romanian side a few years back.Austria Wien this season and they also struggled against Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol at home 90th mintute goal. When Dinamo is a big underdog they seem to come out and surpise and win. Maybe it’s the pressure or they are throwing games or just a lot of average players.
Europa League isn’t that bad, especially towards the end.
Watching Spurs play Lazio etc., is actually decent quality.
No Champion’s League coverage this week?
@ Ante BBB
You’re joking, right?…
It’s official! Kruno Jurcic back as Dinamo’s new coach!
http://sportske.jutarnji.hr/pobuna-u-modroj-svlacionici–neki-igrac–sammir–u-nastavku-su-prestali-trcati-/1127284/
Funny lets reward him with a prvih 11 against Belgium and Scotland
Damn, Rijeka got their asses handed to them today. 4-0 ?
I didnt think it would be that bad. Betis and Lyon are a few minutes away from a scoreless tie.
Dinamo lost at home? Heavy favorites at Maksimir. What the hell is going on?
Its ok, Croatia won the most important game today. Tomorrow wont be easy. Italy had no answer for Lithuania’s big boys down low.
Vitoria up 4-0
@Ante B
results – financial, every champtions league and europa league brings in the money, transfers brings in the money
yes, I agree…but from a soccer perspective its more attractive to watch…from a familiarity perspective I agree…MLS is easy to follow and we have the opportunity to learn a little more about certain teams/players. my local team has a lot of news about the organization…even the youth program!
you guys who think a few BBB and journalists who bad mouth Mamic coupled with a few shitty results in Europe will make him leave are delusional….
@Slavonac from Canada…………Europa League is 2nd tier competition in europe. MLS is the best we have in N. America. I’m not telling you to watch it. I can watch MLS knowing what I am watching is not elite, but its the best there is in the US/Canada. Is MLS better than Europa League????? Not even close.
Regarding Mamic…..one of two ways he will leave: by death or by another power figure trying to take him down. The person who was his biggest critic and loudest critic was Stimac. And Stimac went into bed with Mamic.
Which results?
Compare Dinamo to hajduk or any other team in the HNL, maybe rijeka is doing financially ok but Mamic is getting the results, money is still coming in, he isn’t going anywhere for the time being
Mamic isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He makes the club tons in player transfers and It’s never bothered him that everyone hates him so why would he change anything? As long as they keep winning the League and getting in the CL group stages every now and then, he’s laughing.
If Mamic does not have the results (as meager as they have been) to back up his BS he will eventually get the boot.
@ Ziva – I swear I’m not trying to single you out but this comment is kinda strange: “I know the Europa League is more competitive for Dinamo, but tough to watch or even get excited about a second-tier competition” – so tell me, how excited should we get to watch an MLS game when the quality is far less than in almost any European team? Am I supposed to believe watching Houston vs NY Red Bull is a better matchup? Portland vs LA Galaxy?
you used to say you like sports period and that you watch many games…MLS is better quality than Europa league?
1-0 Vitoria
Rijeka hanging in there though
Can someone explain to me this. Does Mamic own the team? How does he wheel s much power?
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@ Colin
couldn’t agree with you more – even if Dinamo bow out early, Mamic wouldn’t give two shits… it’s going to take way more than that to move him out.
Dinamo has broken records for worst performance in the CL under Mamic’s reign and he’s still here. I’m not convinced a few losses in the second-rate consolation tournament like the Europa Leage are going to send him packing. He’s still makeing plenty of cash just being there, and there are still people happy he’s brought Dinamo this far.
I hope so but i doubt it. he will only leave if there are bigger and better things to go too,
A combination of the media, BBB, himself, etc.
Who will kick him out? hes to stubborn and cocky to just leave
Ante B, agree.
The less $$$ that clown makes, the more losses that pile up in the short term, is all better for Dinamo long term.
Maybe the coach feels Rebic is not ready or he rather use him this weekend. Don’t expect much from our guys in Italy this year, especially Radosevic and Jedavj. Hell, Jedvaj is not allowed to play until November.
Why isn’t Rebic even getting a chance on the pitch with his team up 3 goals is beyond me.
I hope they keep losing in Europe because every loss is a step forward for Mamic leaving.
MAMICU CIGANE ODLAZI IZ SVETINJE
Lol @ dinamo losing to the mighty odessans, at home no less.
IMO Mamic needs to bring back jurcic for a 4th time and sign some more gypsies ; )
LMAO! saw this on a thread. Dinamo is now called…
GNK Mamichi Junajted
hahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahaha
Boze Sacuvaj!
About 1,000 fans banned now at least and were talking about the jezgra of the group. You ban 1,000 actual fans of a group and nobody else will come. Everybody is sick of Mamic and I love it.
MAMICU CIGANE ODLAZI IZ SVETINJE
@ nije
that’s a big crowd for Maksimir nowadays…
That’s because everyone else is banned from Maksimir for UEFA matches,.
roughly around 5000 fans in maksimir stadium
@ Poglavnice
it would be either BG or ZG and if ZG doesn’t replace Maksimir, Marakana would get it most likely.
Somewhere in the Balkans there should be a game.
A lot great footballers come from that region.
I’d have to think Zagreb or Split would make the most sense.
Especially if your looking for a beautiful city to host it then why not Split? Am I right Cico? 🙂
that would be a logistical nightmare…
why don’t they just try to group games in the same geograpical area?
UK/Northern France
Northern Europe
SE Europe
Russia/Ukraine/Belarus etc.
Central Europe
etc.
in a case like that, ZG would have a fair shot I feel…
So Puppet Suker comes out today and says Croatia (ZG) will bid to host games during the 2020 Euros and they plan to build a national stadium.
I am against a national stadium. No reason to build a national stadium. Well, I take that back. They can build it with private money, but public money should not be used for it.
As for hosting games as a part of the Euro 2020. I hate this idea from UEFA, makes it much tougher to follow your team if you plan on attending. But, they plan to use 13 cities throughout the continent to host games. I just don’t see how ZG is one of the 13 selected.
You would have to think the following cities would get to host games before ZG:
London
Glasgow
Madrid/Barcalona
Lisbon
Munich/Berlin
Paris
Amsterdamn
Brussels
Moscow
Kiev
Istanbul
Rome/Milan
A Scandanavian city (Stockholm/Oslo/Copenhagen)
Zurich
I guess ZG could be lumped in with Bucharest or Budapest.
BTW ACF Fiorentina is playing today against Penafiel. I wonder if Rebic gets some playing tie. I’ve got it Tivoed.
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My beloved Rijeka really need to steal points from Guimaraes if they plan on making a decent showing in this group. A win/tie vs. Guimaraes and maybe we can sneak a tie vs. Betis? I’d be happy with that. I see Lyon putting the smack down on us one game… probably a 3-0, 4-0 scoreline.
I know the Europa League is more competitive for Dinamo, but tough to watch or even get excited about a second-tier competition.