Results for Sept. 20-22, 2013
NK OSIJEK 0 – 1 GNK DINAMO ZAGREB
El Arbi Hillel Soudani scored the lone goal of the game, but it was all that was needed for Dinamo to claim victory and remain on top of the league table.
This was Soudani’s fifth goal of the HNL season, making him the second highest scorer in the league after Rijeka’s Leon Benko.
Dinamo must now take this win with them into their next match on Wednesday for their first Croatian Cup match against sixth-division side HNK Suhopolje.
“We dominated almost the entire game, and we deserved the three points,” Arijan Ademi said, who entered the match in the 46th minute. “Winning is important for us in order to regain confidence. We completed the job and already turn to Wednesday and the next game.”
Dinamo coach, Branko Ivanković, described the Osijek team as being “motivated” and “competitive” but Osijek’s struggles remain, and they now sit in ninth place in the league.
They will now go on to face NK Torpedo Kuševac in their Croatian Cup match on Wednesday, but will also have to face a very tough Lokomotiva side in their next league match.
Osijek: Malenica – Babic, Šimunec, Lukic, B. Barisic – Kurtovic Muscle – Pongračić (of 63 Dugandžić), Lulic (of 56 Jakovljevic), Pavic (of 74 J. Barisic) – Ljubojević
Dinamo: Zelenika – Pinto, Addy, Simunic, Pivarić – Sarah – Brozovi (46 Ademi) Antolić, Sammir (of 82 Leko)-Fernandes (of 62 COP), Soudan
HNK HAJDUK SPLIT 1 – 0 NK ZADAR
Hajduk pulled off a close win of their own over the weekend, defeating a challenging Zadar side at Poljud.
Despite sitting in seventh place, Zadar has put up some tough fights this season, and Hajduk had to give all they had to give in order to walk away will all three points.
In the end, Hajduk did the minimum that was required and was able to get crucial goal that would win the game when 21-year-old Georgian, Giorgi Iluridze, scored his first goal for Hajduk in the ninth minute.
It was the first attempt on goal in the match, and Iluridze, who was making his second appearance for Hajduk after joining in August from FC Dila Gori, scored the eventual game winner after receiving a pass from Anton Maglica.
Josip Tadić had a prime opportunity to tie the match in the 68th minute, but Lovre Kalinić made a spectacular save that kept Hajduk on top.
With the win, Hajduk are in third place, only on goal differential, but are tied with Rijeka on points with 22.
NK ISTRA 1961 2 – 3 HNK RIJEKA
It was another heartbreaking last-minute loss for Istra, but it was a thrilling and crucial victory for Rijkea.
League-leader in goals, Leon Benko, scored his sixth goal of the campaign to get the scoring going in the match in the 22nd minute.
Zoran Kvržić took the ball down the field and unleashed a shot that hit beat Antonijo Ježina in goal, but ricocheted off the post where Benko was able to finish the rebound into the empty net.
Istra was determined to get back in the match, and that is exactly what they did when Petar Franjić scored just the tying goal just before the end of the half.
Sandi Križman would do one better when he scored the go-ahead goal in the 48th minute, putting his team in the lead for the first time in the match.
Istra was still leading late in the match, but Rijeka is a tough team to beat.
Kvržić made his second attempt on goal for the day, but this time he made it count, scoring the tying goal in the 78th minute.
But a draw was not enough for Rijkea if they want to seriously challenge for the league title.
Former Dinamo Zagreb striker, Ivan Krstanović was the hero of the day, scoring the winning goal in the 83rd minute, scoring a a header from inside the box.
Rijeka would go on to defend their lead in the final minutes, but both clubs would finish the match with only 10 men.
Istra’s Chun Woon was shown a straight red card the same time Rijeka’s Goran Mujanović was showed his second yellow card.
Rijeka are currently in second place, while Istra are in sixth.
Unconfirmed rumors have been circulating about a possible new stadium for Rijeka. Reports have said that in May, Kandrida will be closed and demolished to make way for a new 12,000 seat stadium. All 12,000 seats are rumored to be covered to protect spectators from sun and rain.
NK LOKOMOTIVA 2 – 1 NK HRVATSKI DRAGOVOLJAC
The Volunteers fought hard for another victory, but had to face a very tough team at their home stadium.
Goran Bačelić-Grgić put his team in the lead in the 25th minute of the match. This was only the third time this season the Volunteers have had the lead in a match.
It was a valiant effort by the struggling club, but Ivan Lendrić of Lokomotiva struck back with a goal in the 47th minute.
It appeared that the match would end in a 1-1 draw, but second-half substitute Ante Budamir crushed the hopes of the Volunteers and took all three points in the dying minutes of extra time.
Another loss leaves H. Dragovoljac in eighth place, but the Lokosi gained three crucial points to keep them in top contention in the league. They now sit in fourth place, but are only three points behind league-leading Dinamo.
NK SLAVEN BELUPO 1 – 2 RNK SPLIT
Things are not going well for Slaven Belupo.
The match in Koprivnica on Saturday was going ot hopefully be the match that turned things around.
Petar Filipović scored the first goal of the match, putting Slaven up in the 41st minute in front of 800 fans that showed to cheer on their struggling team.
This was a must-win for Slaven coach Ivan Katalinić. Fans and residents of Koprivnica have been calling for his replacement, and will ask for his resignation if they fall to Split.
But in typical fashion for this season, Slaven was unable to hang on to the lead, and saw a very important three points slip through their fingers.
Split scored twice late in the game to win the match.
Branko Vrgoc scored the tying goal in the 72nd minute, followed by the game0winner scored by Mate Bilić in the 87th minute.
Slaven Belupo have relieved Katalinić of his duties and have replaced him with Mladen Frančić.
Franšić coached Slaven from 2000-2001 and finished with a record of 11-11-10 with the club. Frančić claims that fans will see a “new Slaven in only one month.”
Can Frančić turn this club around?
A guy who runs a facebook page about the league told me that they plan on building the new stadium to have a 12k capacity, but will leave it so they will have the option to expand it to 18k. Not a bad idea, but is that going to be something you can change on a game-by-game basis, or will expanding it to 18k be a perminent contruction?
here’s his page. Usually get updates on scores and stuff from him
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/MAX-TV-PRVA-LIGA/131703033668433
Rijeka/Kantrida has always hosted NT games… The NT is actually unbeaten in Rijeka (granted, they haven’t played any big time games there)
….not like that cursed stadium Poljud 😉
True, but if it’s a modern stadium then it could be used to house events other than HNL games. They could even start hosting national team games.
The difference in cost won’t be linear. But I’ve heard that they haven’t decided on capacity yet. We’ll see what happens.
@ Ivica
Rijeka doesn’t need that big of a stadium… It would be one thing if Rijeka were a guaranteed fixture every year in Europe, but the fact is we haven’t been.
Fact is, for most HNL games, Rijeka isn’t going to bring in 10k+ fans for a game. Even with Rijeka playing attractive football now and starting the season hot, only a few thousand will show up for games vs. Dragovoljac, Osijek, etc.
For the derbys vs. Hajduk, Istra and Dinamo 12-15k is just enough for me and Rijeka could sell out those types of games most of the time. Rijeka isn’t going to get 25k for a Hajduk game, unless it was to decide something late in the season….
So, they are tearing down Katrida to build a smaller 12,000 seat stadium?
Why don’t they build one that holds something closer to 20 or 25K? Rijeka has gone overcapacity on occasion. It would probably make more sense to build it bigger. May be able to house some concerts or other events that go on in Rijeka.
Seems odd that they would take on such a big project and not increase that capacity a bit more.
55K for who?????? We have enough trouble giving tickets away to watch the repka.
I am all for a modern stadium with quality seating, VIP boxes, great food, HD scoreboard and working wi-fi service…….but I don’t want the cro govt paying for it because we all know that is the easiest way to steal money with public construction projects.
Check out Slaven Bilic’s face. Besiktas-Galatasaray game over the weekend abondoned in extra time due to fans rioting with chairs.
Foul that started it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z2ynCNuNJg
.and the crazy aftermath:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LCWugDZM7I#t=149
Don’t know whose fans are worse, Fenerbahce or Besiktas.
Great Job Dr. Colin ! Just Another Win by Our Beloved Bili Hajduk !! Our Defence is on Fire ! 2 Shutouts in a row ! Kalinic Our Goalman is playing Great ! I think the New Stadium should be built in Dubrovnik ! Why not , it’s the Jewel of Croatia , plus we Allready have a nice Stadium in Beautiful Split – Poljud !! Plus We can play all the Champiohship games there since it is somewhat neutral ! Dok Mi Bilo Srce Bije !! Bog , Hrvati , USA , Champion L.A. Galaxy , Hajduk , i HNS !!!
We need a 55k venue. We need to do it right and have a proper national stadium.
Besides, It can also be used for other major events, such as Ultra Music Festival, Roger Waters, Thompson, etc.
This new stadium should be interesting. They will build the fucker in ZG and it will be full once, maybe twice a year.
A 55,000 seat stadium is not needed. The repka doesn’t need one that big and Dinamo doesn’t need one that size either.
@Anthony – Awesome news. Thanks. Can you get me a link? Haven’t been able to find anything concrete yet.
Haris bukva #21 on hajduk, kind of looks like dejan lovren
New stadium cant be in vukovar, its too far away from everything… i say we should build one in imotski, inbetween the two lakes 😉
The “unconfirmed” reports of Rijeka’s new stadium have actually been confirmed by Rijeka president Damir Mišković
@Colin – great job, as always – thanks. Hope Rijeka does get a new stadium……and regarding the rumor that Croatia wants to build a national stadium, why not Vukovar?
It would send a huge symbolic message to all of Europe and keep the bickering between Zagreb and Split out of it. I know there’s no chance of it happening – infrastructure, for one, would have to be considered – maybe a major highway from Zagreb and a few nice hotels.
Maybe Mamic and his mafia buddies can pitch in to make it happen.
If not, I say Dubrovnik.
wow… for the first time in recent memory, Dinamo might not win the Prva HNL by double digits…