HNL Week 21 – Spring Has Arrived

 

 

Results for Feb. 7 – 9, 2014

 

 

NK ISTRA 1961 1 – 3 GNK DINAMO ZAGREB

WEEK 17 MAKE-UP GAME

 

 

Dinamo traveled to Pula on Thursday to make up a game that was postponed due to rain prior to the winter break. This is the first HNL game played since the winter break for both clubs.

Istra struck first in the match, and scored from a free kick in the 12 minute sent in from Slavko Blagojević.

Blagojević blistered the shot from just outside the penalty area past a diving and helpless Grzegorz Sandomierski, who could do little else than watch the ball pass him.

Istra’s attack did little else during the match, and their defense was unable to control the offensive power of Dinamo.

The Modri eventually tied the game up ten minutes later with a goal from El Arbi Hillel Soudani in the 22nd minute.

Fatos Beqiraj sent in a cross from the right side that Duje Čop flicked to Soudani headed who the ball into the net for Dinamo’s first league goal of 2014.

Soudani returned the favor to Čop when he sent it a brilliant through ball to Čop who outwitted the keeper with a spin move and scored the second goal for Dinamo.

Čop found himself on the score sheet a second time after Jerko Leko sent in a cross that was headed down by Junior Fernadez right to Čop who easily puts it in the net.

Dinamo earned three points with the victory and remain on the top of the table where Istra coach, Igor Pamić, expects them to remain.

“Congratulations to Dinamo on the championship. They are just on another level than us,” Pamić said. “We gave what we could, and I’m not mad at anybody. Yet I must say that I can not help feeling that we get too few goals. I told that the boys that, and they are aware of their mistakes.”

Dinamo also had a few new faces on the field who made their debuts in Pula. Petar Mamić and the Brazilian replacement for Sammir, Cleyton, both saw time on the pitch for Dinamo. Mamić started and was subbed out for Alen Halilović on the 46th minute, while Cleyton the match in the 46th minute for Beqiraj.

 

 

 

HNK RIJEKA – GNK DINAMO ZAGREB

POSTPONED

The HNL match between Rijkea and Dinamo has been postponed until Wednesday, Feb. 26 due to soaked field conditions.

 

 

 

 

RNK SPLIT 1 – 2 HNK HAJDUK SPLIT

 

 

The Split Derby ended in a thriller on Saturday as Hajduk stole a win from their counterpart from Youth Park in the final minutes of the match.

The action was limited in the first half of the match, which was played on a foggy and wet field at Youth Park, but the second half gave the fans something to cheer for.

Split was awarded a penalty kick in the 62nd minute of the match after a questionable call was called in the box.

Ante Erceg stepped up to take the kick, but it was Dante Stipica who came out the hero when he guessed correctly and made the save. Stipica was in goal for Hajduk in place for the injured Lovre Kalinić who is out due to an injured elbow.

Split was also without their number-one goalkeeper, Danijel Zagorac, due to a wrist injury.

Denis Glavina eventually found the back of the net for Split 10 minutes later when he flicked in a header from a free kick outside the penalty area.

But it was Mario Pašalić who became the hero for Hajduk.

The German-born midfielder has had an exciting 2014. He is celebrating his 19th birthday today, but has also just been signed to the Premier League’s Chelsea FC on Jan. 30 for a reported fee of two million pounds. He will remain at Hajduk on loan until the summer.

The Chelsea loanee scored the game tying goal in the 83rd minute.

Pašalić was able to beat two Split defenders, who sloppily attempted to stop him, but failed. Pašalić scored from about six yards away to tie the game.

He quickly struck again in the 87th minute with a header from the on the goal line.

Split gave a valiant effort to obtain a few points, but Hajduk proved that they are too strong a team, and found a way to beat their Split at Youth Park, that has been known as a fortress the past several seasons.

Hajduk remain in second place, three points above Rijeka, who have played one fewer match.

To read more about the match, read about Valentina’s experience at the game here.

 

 

 

 

 

NK LOKOMOTIVA 2 – 1 NK SLAVEN BELUPO

 

 

Mladen Francić-led Slaven Belupo put up a strong fight against the Lokosi at Maksimir on Friday, but the home side rolled on like a train and Slaven was unable to stop it.

Slaven took an early lead when Dario Čanađija snuck one by the far post in the 15th minute.

Čanađija received a cross from the left side and scored from about 12 yards out to give Slaven a well-deserved lead.

There were several other chances for Slaven to extend the lead.

Petr Filipović had a quality attempt on goal, but goalkeeper Oliver Zelenika, who is on loan from Dinamo Zagreb, was there to make the save.

Several minutes after that, Ivan Fuštar unleashed a howitzer from the top of the penalty area from a free kick, but his shot was met by the cross bar, and bounced out of play.

The Pharmacists held their one-goal lead into the second half before the Lokosi could equalize.

But it was Marko Pjaca that diminished Slaven’s aspirations of taking three points on the road.

Pijaca lofted a header past the far post, just passed Tomislav Pelin. Pelin was soon beat again in similar fashion when Tomislav Barbarić met a free kick with his head and put it where Pelin had no chance to read it.

The Lokosi took all three points at home and sent the Pharmacists home still in a deep struggle to advance on the league table.

 

 

 

 

 

NK HRVATSKI DRAGOVOLJAC 1 – 2 NK ISTRA 1961

 

 

The Volunteers started Sunday evening at the bottom of the league, and ended the evening at the bottom of the league. The troubles are mounting for the club as they have gone winless in 20 of this season’s 21 matches. But the woes continue.

Dragovoljac has only two Prva Liga wins in their past 29 matches, dating back to their last appearance in the top flight in 2011.

Things did not appear to change on Sunday when they faced Istra.

Istra had just sent their starting goalkeeper, Antonijo Ježina to Dinamo Zagreb, so Igo Lovrić took his spot in between the pipes.

It did not take long for Istra to find a goal. Jo Alvarez sent in a corner that was met by the head of Fausto Budičin to knock it in the goal.

After several scares for Dragovoljac, nearly seeing their deficit double, Danijel Zlatar was awarded a penalty and was able to knot the score up at one goal a peace.

But Jure Orbšivac put in the game winner in the 80th minute to come out victorious.

Istra have seem to solidified their place in the middle of the table, and will continue to challenge for fifth place.

 

 

 

NK ZADAR 3 – 1 NK OSIJEK

 

 

Osijek are struggling to keep their heads above water, sitting only two points above Hr. Dragovoljac who lie in the relegation spot.

The match on Saturday did not help their cause for survival as they fell to Zadar 3-1.

Osijek’s inability to clear a simple ball led to Zadar’s first goal in the 10th minute.

Igor Banovič received a ball from a throw in after two Osijek defenders let it roll by. Banović took the shot only a few yards from goal and easily put his team up 1-0.

Josip Ivančić scored the second goal in the 55th minute while one a two-on-one break towards goal and easily slotted in past the goalkeeper.

Matej Jončić scored a consolation goal in the 62nd minute for Osijek, but Josip Tadić capped off the day with a third Zadrani goal.