HNL REPORT (WEEK 2)

Results for July 27-29, 2012

 

  

Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 Cibalia

Photo: Tomislav Kristo / CROPIX

 

Domagoj Vida celebrates Dinamo gaol against Cibalia

Dinamo Zagreb celebrated their Champions League qualifying win over Ludogorets with a 2-1 win over Cibalia at Maksimir on Saturday. The Croatian champions opened up the match strong and dominated the early stages. Former Hajduk Split striker, Ante Rukavina, came close to scoring in the 9th minute as his shot went off the woodwork from close range. Dinamo missed another golden opportunity just before the half hour mark as Nikola Pokrivač was left unmarked just 25-meters out but the Croatian international’s shot sailed just wide of the right post. Less than six minutes later, Jerko Leko would shake a Cibalia defender and Mario Lučić would bring the Croatian international down in the box to give Dinamo a shot from the spot. Leko stepped up to the spot and calmly put the ball past Mladen Matković and into the back of the net. Beqiraj came close to doubling the score before the halftime whistle, but his shot sailed just wide of the post.

Photo: Cropix

Jerko Leko scores from the spot against Cibalia

The hosts continued where they left off in the second half as another former Hajduk Split striker, Duje Čop, would double the score just after the hour mark. Croatian international, Šime Vrsaljko, made a nice run and found Duje with a nice cross and the Split born striker scored his first goal in a Dinamo uniform. Cibalia would get back into the game in the 67th minute as Mladen Bartolović would beat the Dinamo offside trap and score off a Šime Vrsaljko deflection. Ante Rukavina had another chance just five minutes later on a one-on-one with the Cibalia keeper, however, his shot sailed off the post. Cibalia couldn’t get another opportunity for a chance to equalize and Dinamo finished with their first win of the season.

 Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 Cibalia

DINAMO: Kelava – Vrsaljko, Vida, Šimunić, Pivarić (71. Ademi) – Porkivač, Leko – Rukavina, Sammir, Alispahić (Tomečak 90) – Beqiraj ( Čop 59)

CIBALIA: Matković – Gegić (Mišić 54), Lučić, Mitrović, Rugašević – Mazalović, Župarić, Vitaić, Puljić – Koledić (Novak 83), Bartolović (69. Ćorić)

Hajduk Split 1-0 Split

 

 Photo: Cropix

  

Mijo Caktaš in action for Hajduk against Rnk Split on Sunday

A 15th minute goal from 21-year-old Split born midfielder, Franko Andrijašević, was all Hajduk needed to settle the Split derby at Poljud on Sunday. The win will give a young Hajduk squad much needed confidence ahead of their historical match against Italian Giants Inter Milan on Thursday. Franko Andrijašević satisfied a crowd of 15,000 after connecting on a Goran Jozinović corner and give a dominating Hajduk a deserving victory. Andrijašević came close to doubling the score later in the second half but his shot went straight at the keeper from close range.

Hajduk picked up a valuable three points and might have upset a few people at the betting parlors as Rnk Split was favored for the first time ever. The Bili can now officially start thinking about Inter and a historic two-legged match starting on Thursday in Split.

Andrijašević goal

“I am very pleased that we have in my first city derby against Split showed who is boss in town. My players showed on the field how well they were prepared. At halftime, five players were lying on the ground and telling me they were exhausted, they do not know how they will continue, but then they said that together we will go to victory. I know that the fans helped us with chants of “We want a win” after the match and I understand that this was related to the Inter match. However, for us it was most important to beat Split, and the players don’t need to be particularly motivated for the Inter match. Oremuš? He received a knock, I hope that nothing is not broken. Maglica? He has problems with the tendons and therefore did not play.”

~Hajduk manager, Mišo Krstičević

“We did not have rhythm to this game, we got scored on during an awkward moment at the start of the match and it gave vigor to the young Hajduk team. The fans guided them to victory and I congratulate Hajduk for the win. In the second half we tried to create the rhythm of our game with substitutions, but we failed because we were just not right tonight. Hajduk did not surprise us by anything, we did not give what we can. Just as after the Rijeka win we didn’t go into euphoria and celebration, we will not fall into depression after the Hajduk defeat.”

~Split manager, Tonči Bašić

Hajduk (4–2–3–1): Blažević – Vršajević, Maloča, Milović, Jozinović – Radošević, Andrijašević(84. Vuković) – Oremuš(48. Sušić), Caktaš (68. Milić), Ozobić – Vukušić

Split (4–1–2–3): Zagorac – Radotić, Galović, Vidić, Hrgović – A. Vitaić – Erceg, Pehar(46. Baraban) – Belle(61. Jelić), Vojnović(78. Marčić), Rebić

Inter Zaprešić 0-1 Lokomotiva

Photo: Damir Krajač / Cropix

 

Inter-Lokomotiva 

Lokomotiva found themselves on top of the HNL table after registering a 1-0 away win at Inter Zaprešić on Friday night. In a dull and almost uneventful match, a Domagoj Antolić penalty kick in the 67th minute was all that separated the two sides. Inter captain, Tomislav Šarić, brought down former Dinamo Zagreb striker Andrej Kramarić and the referee didn’t have a choice but to point to the spot. Inter searched for an equalizer late in the game, but couldn’t break a well organized Lokomotiva defense.

“It was as humid as in Saudi Arabia. This is the start of my dreams, my players past the test. We played a great second half, we were dominant and we should have scored some more goals and this match will give my players more confidence. I appreciate Antolić, there aren’t that many technically strong players in Croatia.”

~Lokomotiva manager, Tomislav Ivković

“It seems to me that the penalty was not the right call. But regardless, we played poorly and the best we could have done was a draw. But who knows if it was a draw would it be deservedly as locomotiva was better.”

~Inter manager, Borimir Perković

 

 

INTER: Santini – Plazanić (46. Herceg ), Bagarić, Gulić, Čeliković (79. Matko) – Vujčić; Mlinar, Budimir, Šarić – Hadžić(73. Ščrbec), Oršić.

LOKOMOTIVA: Picak(46. Lovrić) – Boras, Barbarić, Mesarić, Musa – Mrzljak – Zakarić(74. Samateh), Brozović, Antolić, Bručić – Kramarić(92. Škvorc)

NK Rijeka 0-0 Zadar

 Photo: index

 

Rijeka-Zadar 

Zadar opened up the HNL season with consecutive draws after failing to get on the board and holding Rijeka to a nil-nil draw on the road. The guests had the first opportunity on goal in only the 7th minute as Ivan Ćurjurić struck the post from 12-meters out. Both teams exchanged a couple of minor chances that never threatened either goal the rest of the first half. The second half was pretty much a continuation of the first half. Andréa Mbuyi-Mutombo played well for Rijeka and set up Leon Benko with a pretty through ball, but the former Standard Liège striker was denied by the woodwork 12-meters out. Rijeka manager, Elvis Scoria, will be kicking himself for not getting the result.

“I am disappointed with the result. We wanted to be more fluid and work the combinations in our game, but we also created many opportunities and hit two goal posts. It ended how it ended. My players and I are unhappy that we could win for our home crowd. I think we deserved a goal. Mijerzewski was at a high level, he deserves the praise. Mutombo was agile and worked hard with only a goal missing. Gabrić is a good player and you always expect that one of his plays can win the game. Maybe I was late subbing in Miloš. The result in the end wasn’t fair.”

~Rijeka manager, Elvis Scoria

“It was a battle and we played the best that we can at this point. We also created chances, but we should not talk about our opportunities, as the hosts had a few chances as well. We picked up a big point against the dominant Rijeka. We were pushed into our box fought away lots of corners and fortunately their shooters were not in form. I leave satisfied. I thank the Rijeka supporters for a great atmosphere.”

~Zadar manager, Dalibor Zebić

 Rijeka 0-0 Zadar 

 

 

RIJEKA: Lisjak – Mierzejewski, Knežćević, Neretljak, Čaval – Kreilach, – Gabrić, Brezovec , Čulina – Mutombo, Benko

ZADAR: Gluić – Prahić, Jerbić, Bilen – Vasilj, Ćurjurić, Tokić, Banović, Sarić – Ivančić, Begonja

 

 

Osijek 1-0 Zagreb

 

 

  Photo: Marko Mrkonjić

Osijek in action against Zagreb on Sunday

 

After a disappointing 6-1 aggregate loss to Swedish Karmar, Osijek redeemed themselves with a 1-0 win over NK Zagreb at Gradski Vrt. A 35th minute goal from 23-year-old Bosnian midfielder, Zoran Kvržić was all that separated the two sides in the end. Osijek dominated the first half and deserved to pick up the three points in the end. Zagreb had a couple of chances to equalize in the second half with 19-year-old Dino Bevab’s shot hitting the woodwork late in the game. But it was little too late as Osijek picked up their first win of the HNL season.

Slaven Koprivnica  3-1 Istra 1961

 

 

 

Photo: Glas Istre

 

Slaven Belupo in action against Istra 1961 

 

Slaven Koprivnica continued its unbeaten season with an impressive 3-1 win over Istra 1961 on Sunday. After finishing off Portadown with an astonishing 10-2 aggregate result in the Europa League last week, Slaven managed to put three in the back of the net against Istra. The Farmaceuti put the game away early in the first half as Mateas Delić and Dejan Glavica reached the back of the net just before the half hour mark. Delić would get on the board again in the 62nd minute before Pula born midfielder Sandi Križman spoiled Silvio Rodić’ shutout with a goal ten minutes from time. Slaven Belupo along with Lokomotiva are the only two teams with two wins from their first two HNL matches.

Slaven Koprivnica  3-1  Istra 1961

SLAVEN BELUPO: Rodić, Purić, Grgić, Bubnjić, Maras (67. Pilipović), Kokalović, Batarelo, Rak, Glavica (79. Čanađija), Delić, Šaban (65. Bušić).

ISTRA 1961: Prskalo, Sušić, Čagalj, Stranatić, Milić, Linić (46. Sharbini ), Jerković (78. Jugović), Ottochian (66. Prelčec), Bačelić Grgić, Prgomet, Križman.