HNL Week 4

 

 

Results for August 10-12, 2012

 

DINAMO ZAGREB 4 – 2 RNK SPLIT

gnkdinamo.hr

Dinamo players walked off the field in shock after the first half, as they were down 2-0 to a formidable Split side after the first 45 minutes. They maintained their cool, though and fought back with character, scoring four unanswered goals in the second half.

Split entered the game with determination. They kept the Dinamo counter attack at bay and exposed it to their advantage. They pressured the Dinamo defense early and didn’t stop.

Split took the lead in the 30th minute thanks to forward Henri Belle. Belle bulldozed his way through the defense until he was alone with goalkeeper Ivan Kelava and calmly beat him with his left foot.

The score was doubled nine minutes later when Dražen Bagarić received a pass that was deflected to him off Dinamo defender Jerko Leko and flipped the ball in with the outside of his foot from three yards out. Kelava tried to appeal for offsides to no avail.

The second half was a new day for Dinamo. Captain Milan Badelj gave Dinamo hope when he scored 10 minutes after the restart. The modri gained their confidence back which helped them score again four minutes later. Josip Šimunić received a perfectly placed ball from a free kick which he put in the goal with his head. Split goalkeeper, Danjiel Zagorac, knew he should have saved the shot and was seen banging his head on his goal post as the Dinamo players celebrated around him.

Six minutes later, Sammir redeemed himself, after having to pay and upwards of 200,000 euros due to disciplinary issues, by taking the lead with a well placed penalty to the left side of the net. Duje Čop scored his second of the season off a rebound in the 86 minute.

Dinamo was missing key defenders Domagoj Vida and Tonel today as head coach, Ante Čačić assigned them an “enhanced training session” as well as giving them the day off. He continued by saying that this marked Dinamo’s eighth game in 24 days, and there is no reason to play them when they have such a deep squad.

“Puljić played well, and I have no reason to keep Vrsaljko frozen a couple games. Dinamo is still expected to dominate the championship, and that will help us get better and become more efficient in Europe. I have said many times, all who are here are here for a reason and everyone will play.” – Ante Čačić

“Dinamo is a team that has all around quality, technically and physically speaking. I would not comment on their problems in the locker room, but they have a lot of quality players and I think Dinamo’s weaknesses are difficult to speak of. The result speaks in favor of Mr. Čačić, as he knows his job. We prepared them for the whole week.” – RNK Split head coach, Tonci Bašić

Dinamo: Kelava – Vrsaljko, Puljić, Šimunić, Pivarić – Ademi – Leko (od 46. Sammir), Badelj, Ibanez (od 46. Peko) – Rukavina (od 82. Pokrivač), Čop

Split: Zagorac – Bagarić (od 67. Rebić), Vidić, Galović, Hrgović – Paracki, Radotić, Vitaić, Belle – Baraban (od 79. Kvesić), Vojnović (od 67. Erceg)

HNK HAJDUK SPLIT 5 – 1 NK ZAGREB

 

S. Škrlec 

Hajduk split was riding high off their win over Italian giants Inter Milan as they entered Poljud Stadium today to face NK Zagreb. The boys in white put on a show and stomped over the win less Zagreb team 5-1.

Zagreb, who has yet to earn a point in this early part of the season, has yet to even score a single goal until the 14th minute of the match when Jakub Vojtuš tied it up for the the pjesnici.

This would not be enough for the boys from Kranjčevićeva as Hajduk answered back hard. The first half consisted of what could be considered fair play among the teams. Both sides had their chances and were put on the score sheet.

It only took Hajduk wunderboy, Ante Vukušić, 11 minutes to crack the Zagreb defense. A perfectly weighted through ball was sent his way and he was able to hit it across the keeper’s body into the goal. Four minutes later, Zagreb had something to celebrate for as Vojtuš smashes one in. Mijo Caktaš would put in the go ahead goal for the bili in the 28th minute.

The second half is where Hajduk became the dominant team. Hajduk’s offensive frenzy began in the 60th minute when Caktaš scored a flashy goal after stealing the ball at midfield and taking it in himself before shooting from 20 yards out to go ahead 3-1.

Vukušić would score again and Anton Maglica would also join the list of goal scorers for the day.

 

 

HNK RIJEKA 2 – 2 NK LOKOMOTIVA

 

 nk-rijeka.hr

The boys of Rijeka were looking for their season’s first win at home today, but failed to find it as they drew Lokomotiva 2-2.

Lokomotiva handled the first half well by controlling the ball as well as the tempo of the match. Midfielder Marcelo Brožović put on a show with a few 25 yard cracks on target. His first one was ripped on goal but struck the crossbar and bounced away. His second chance came just five minutes later and was identical to the first, except this time dipped just below the crossbar and made it into the back of the net to put the Loksi up 1-0.

Just over 10 minutes later, defender Ivan Boraš had an impressive goal himself from 20 yards out to make it 2-0.

Rijeka is a rising force in the league and did not take this beating sitting down. They made up for the poor first half with hard work and strong play in the second half. The team came out and played much like the visitors did in the first half; controlling the ball and the tempo of the game.

Ivor Weitzer made another appearance for Rijeka and proved he was worthy of playing time. The home-grown Weitzer put Rijeka on the board in the 52nd minute and gave the fans at Kantrida something to cheer for.

The momentum was on Rijeka’s side and just over 10 minutes later, Leon Benko tied it up for the home side.

Trouble struck for the home side in the 85th minute when Lukasz Mierzejewski was injured and could not return to the field. Rijeka coach Elvis Scoria already used up all his subs and had to finish the match with 10 men.

Both teams had their opportunities to take three points, but neither were able to capitalize on their chances and split the points at Kantrida.

“We had a bad half hour on the field and we could not counter them in midfield. We knew once we scored our first goal, we were back in the match, but I think we deserved a third goal to win it. Mierzejewski was seriously injured. He went to the hospital, broke his cheekbone.” – Elvis Scoria

 

NK SLAVEN BELUPO 2 – 0 NK ZADAR

 

nk-slaven-belupo.hr

Slaven Belupo is another team coming of a great win in the Europa League. Just a few days after defeating Spain’s Athletic Bilbao, Slaven returned home to face a win less Zadar team.

The farmaceuti took care of the visitors with no problem. Only six minutes into the match, captain Alen Maras struck a free kick over the wall and dipped it into the goal. The 1,500 in attendance thanked him with a long bout of applause.

The half ended with the hosts ahead by one, but they nearly extended their lead shortly after the restart of the match. A powerful free kick form 25 yards our made it to the goal, but was directly at the Zadar keeper and he corralled it with no trouble.

Few chances were given to Zadar, but the ones they had were no trouble for the Slaven defense. Davor Vugrineć sealed the deal for Slaven late in the game when he took the ball into the penalty area himself and finished the play with a goal.

Zadar sit in ninth place with two draws, two losses, and zero wins while Slaven sit in third, one point behind leaders Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb.

“I knew that after the great game with Bilbao, we expected a very difficult match for us, but it is most important that we have obtained three new points. In three weeks we have played eight matches, and there are more to come. I congratulate the guys on their commitment and our victory is deserved.” – Slaven Coach, Roy Ferenčina

SLAVEN BELUPO: Rodić, Purić, Kokalović, Grgić, Maras, Batarelo, Čanađija, Gregurina (od 84. Bušić), Vugrinec, Glavica (od 71. Delić), Rak (od 46. Bubnjić).

ZADAR: Gluić, Bilaver, Jerbić, Prahić, Banović, Šimurina (od 67. Jočlić), Surać (od 61. Čurjurić), Ivančić, Begonja, Tokić (od 66. Brnadić), Banović.

 

NK INTER ZAPREŠIC 0 – 3 NK OSIJEK

 

nk-osijek.hr

 

 Osijek easily took care of Inter, routing them 3-0 despite a lackluster first half.

The first 45 minutes was controlled by the home side, nearly scoring several times in the first half, including a near miss that was saved by the feet of Osijek keeper, Ivan Vargić.

Antonio Peročević gave his team the advantage early in the second half with a one-timer goal from near the top of the box. Krševan Santini could just get his fingertips to it, but it wasn’t enough to save the goal.

Josip Mišić took advantage of some sloppy defense from Inter and doubled the away team’s score. The Inter defender had trouble clearing a ball and left it where Mišić was easily able to get to it and put it in the net.

Perošević doubled his goals for the game after bringing down a long pass and cleverly striking the ball with the outside of his foot to make it 3-0 in the 85th minute.

Osijek has climbed to fourth place on the league table, while Inter is in 10th, still without a win.

 

HNK CIBALIA 0 – 1 NK ISTRA 1961

 

nkistra1961.hr

Sandi Križman, who had just joined the team from Istra, scored the only goal in the match to achieve the first win of the season for the Verudeži.

Istra had several chances in the first half, but failed to capitalize on any of them. They controlled the game and Cibalia had no chance to get themselves going.

In the first minute of the second half, Križman score the game-winning goal and celebrated with his team. Cibalia’s first scoring opportunity of the match did not come until the 75th minute when Ivan Koledić missed an empty net to tie it up.

Cibalia is in 11th place with zero wins, a draw, and one loss.