Results for Oct. 19-21, 2013
RNK SPLIT 1 – 0 GNK DINAMO ZAGREB
Split has once again proven that they are a worthy opponent in the HNL.
Another top performance by the club at their home stadium also shows how dangerous it is for visiting teams to try to take points from Split at home.
The young and tough team played the way it is to be expected against Dinamo; strong and bunkering defense, with the occasional counter attack creating the majority of their offense.
Dinamo asserted a strong offensive line up despite being without the likes of Junior Fernandes and Alen Halilović, but could not crack the code of Split’s ten-man defense.
Both teams had there chances on goal, but neither side was threatening enough to score. That is until the Mate Bilić stepped up and scored the game’s lone goal in the 39th minute.
Aljoša Vojnović slipped a through ball through the Dinamo defense that was meat up with the 32-year-old Bilić who beat the offsides trap to face Oliver Zelenika one-on-one and routinely finished the play for a goal.
“Collectively, we played well and gave our best,” Split coach Stanko Mršić said. “But the most important thing is that we won the three points and I hope we can continue.”
Bilić was pleased to have scored the winning goal, and was especially happy to defeat a strong side such as Dinamo.
“You can see that they are in crisis, but they continue to have the highest quality team and are the main favorites for the title. We knew how to play against them, and I’m happy we won and complicated their fight for the title,” Bilić said.
In addition to suffering a loss, Dinamo will have to do without midfielder, Said Husejinović, for the remainder of the season.
Husejinović was carted off the field in the 15th minute due to a knee injury. It is now confirmed that the midfielder ruptured his ACL in his left knee, and will require surgery. He is expected to miss up to six months.
Split are climbing up the league table, but still remain in fifth place, seven points out of fourth.
Dinamo now sit in a rare second-place position, but are tied on points with first-placed Hajduk.
Dinamo will try to forget about this loss and now focus on their upcoming Europa League match against The Netherlands’ PSV.
NK HRVATSKI DRAGOVOLJAC 1 – 2 HNK HAJDUK SPLIT
Hajduk traveled to Zagreb to face Hrvatski Dragovoljac on Sunday, and won in a thrilling manner as Marko Bencun became there hero after scoring the equalizer and the game winner in the match.
The Volunteers respected and were familiar with the talent that Hajduk possesses. Putting ten men behind the ball was very much part of their game plan, along with giving the strikers of Hajduk little room to work with.
Hajduk seemed uncomfortable at first, trying to force passes and looking for space, but calmed down after a bit and found themselves controlling the match.
But it was Ilija Sivonjić of the Volunteers who made Hajduk rethink their plan of attack when he scored the first goal of the game to put his team in the lead.
Sivonjić received an aerial pass that floated just over the Hajduk defense. Sivonjić managed to stay on sides and beat Lovre Kalinić on an easy one-on-one to make the score 1-0.
With his team down by a goal, coach Igor Tudor sent in Bencun in the 56th minute. In the 59th minute, Bencun had tied the game up at 1-1.
Sivonjić was given the opportunity to score a his second goal of the game, but this time, Kalinić got the best of him, and was able to make the save needed to keep his team in the match.
That save turned out to be extremely important in the end.
Bencun calmly was able to score his second goal in the 92nd minute, putting his team in the lead, and achieving three points that put Hajduk in first place of the HNL.
“The game was good. We were better. We had more chances to score, and I think that justice is finally won,” Hajduk coach, Igor Tudor, said. “I don’t think about the champions or the championship, but only about the next game and how we will overcome Locomotiva.”
HNK RIJEKA 3 – 0 NK ZADAR
Another installment of the Leon Benko Show has concluded after Rijeka defeated Zadar 3-0.
Rijkea is keeping pace with the top of the table, only one point behind the first and second place teams, and they seem to be continuing their hunt for their first Croatian League title.
The match started off with both teams going to goal early. Josip Brezović put one on target less than two minutes in, but was routinely saved by Mladen Matković.
Zadar turned the tables and put some pressure on Rijeka only a few minutes later. Marcel Heister struck a hard one at Ivan Vargić, who managed to get a touch on it and pushed the shot aside.
Vargić was soon tested again when Luka Begonja shot one on target, but Vargić’s quick reaction kept the score tied at 0-0.
The scoring did not come before each team traded even more chances, with both sides striking the goal frame.
But inevitably, Rijeka took the lead with a goal from Leon Benko in the 53rd minute. Rijeka was awarded a penalty shot after Andrej Kramarić was taken down in the box. Benko was there to take the shot and converted it into a one-goal lead.
Benko soon after set up the second goal of the game by placing a wonderful pass to Kramarić who shot it into the net.
Benko wasn’t done there. He scored another goal of his own to make the final score 3-0.
NK LOKOMOTIVA 2-1 NK ISTRA 1961
An early goal for the Istrians was an ideal way for the club to start off the match against Lokomotiva at Maksimir.
Dejan Radonjić stepped up to take a penalty kick in the sixth minute of play and put his team up 1-0, and hung on to the lead for the rest of the half.
The Lokosi were not to be beaten at their home stadium, though. The tough side from Zagreb is looking to stay near the top of the table and fought back.
Ante Budimir finally got the well-deserved goal for the Lokosi in the 51st minute.
Budimir found himself in the right place at the right time and was presented with a rebound in the box that he struck on goal, tying the match.
Istra tried to at least salvage a point, but Sandi Križman make a crucial mistake, taking down Budimir in his own box, and gave Lokomotiva the prime opportunity to take the match.
Dinko Trebotić easily scored from the spot in the 71st minute and Lokomotiva were able to take all three points, keeping them only one point out of first place.
Istra coach Igor Pamić, is usually never short of words after a match, but he kept it brief in a press conference following the loss, and did not want to speak to any journalists.
“The players for Locomotiva were fair and the blame for our loss is on us. Congratulations to our opponent and their coach,” is all Pamić had to say.
Istra remain in sixth place after the loss.
NK SLAVEN BELUPO 2 – 0 NK OSIJEK
Two quick goals in the opening minutes of the match were all Slaven needed in order to defeat Osijek in Koprivnica.
Both clubs have been seriously struggling in the league this year and have been looking for any opportunity to gain a few points, but it was the home team that took advantage of their opposition and took all three points with the win.
Marin Matoš for Slaven, brought the ball into the Osijek end of the field almost immediately after kickoff. Matoš swung in a cross that was met by Mateas Delić who put the ball in the net in the third minute.
Mato Grgić doubled Slaven’s lead only seven minutes later when he scored off a header sent in from a corner kick.
With his team down by two goals, Osijek’s Josip Mišić had a try on goal that tested Slaven’s Silvio Rodić, but Rodić’s quick hands kept the score unchanged.
Slaven veteran Davor Vugrenic created two dangerous chances to increase the lead, but were snuffed out be the Osijek defense.
Slaven are grateful for the three points which now have them resting in seventh place. Osijek, on the other hand, are continuing to struggle and are in last place on the league table.
Zoran Mamic will be finishing the season as Dinamo’s coach.
Rika je govno, HAJDUK
@Ziva
MLS does and so do a lot of other leagues i’m guessing.
I hate “being on the grid” or signing up for just about anything where personal info or emails are given.
As much as it sucks it makes total sense.
Especially in football.
Would be a shame to see Osijek drop.
basically, if away fans want to travel and watch their team as a a collective group, they have to get vouchers/permits from their home club to do so. It’s a tracking system put in place to know which fans are attending. Complete bullshit.
@Ziva – Yeah Kohorts from Osijek did the same thing more or less in Koprivnica. There were a couple thousand Torcida at Kranjceviceva this weekend (about 2 or 3k?). I was impressed. I tried to get a buddy of mine to explain the details of the rules, but he wasn’t even sure what they were. I’ll get more info next week. You’re welcome to add what you know as well.
@Cico – Yeah, I thought about putting Hajduk up top. I really did. If they can hold first place next week, they’ll be the first match in the report.
@Valentina – HVALA!! I forgot to add that!
surprised no mention of the voucher crap the HNS is trying with away fans. BBB and Torcida pulled a nice one over the savez this weekend.
Great Job as Always Dr. Colin , But for the Life of Me i don’t understand Why that Arrogant Mamic/dinamo is the 1st Report on the Update ? Yes Hajduk & (g)nk have the same # of Points , but have U forgotten that the Most Loved Team in Croatia & Throughout the World Hajduk BEAT your Arrogant one’s Ass 2-0 not so long ago ! Time to move your International team Down now my good Dr. ! Ha ha ! Bencun & Tudor Rule !! Called in sick today after Partying till the Wee Hours of the morning with my Hajduk Brothers ! O how Sweet 1st Place is !! What a Great Game vs. HD yesterday ! Non-Stop Pressure by Our Bili ! Torcida i Hajduk 4 Life !! The Happiness is Overwelming ! What a Beautiful Time it is to be a Hajduk Fan ! Peace Out !! Bog , Hrvati , USA , Champion L.A. Galaxy , Hajduk , i HNS !!!
Dinamo lets Andrej Kramaric go to Rijeka for nothing and Kramaric scores 4 goals in 7 games this season (with much of those games being off the bench).
Yet they keep the on-loan Junior Fernandes who has the same amount of goals in more than double the minutes played.
Dinamo can’t even dominate with a foreign roster.
RIJEKA!!!!!!!!!!
KANTRIDA!!!!!!!
ZAMET!!!!!!!!!
ISTRA!!!!!!!!!!!
all day!
MAXtv Prva liga – Poredak
# Klub Utakmica Pob. Rem. Izg. Gol + Gol – Gol +/- Bod.
1. Hajduk 13 8 3 2 21 8 13 27
2. Dinamo 13 8 3 2 18 8 10 27
3. Rijeka 13 7 5 1 23 9 14 26
4. Lokomotiva 13 8 2 3 24 14 10 26
5. Split 13 5 4 4 14 13 1 19
6. Istra 1961 13 5 2 6 16 19 -3 17
7. Slaven Belupo 13 3 3 7 15 18 -3 12
8. Zadar 13 3 3 7 10 21 -11 12
9. Hrv. drag. 13 1 4 8 9 18 -9 7
10. Osijek 13 2 1 10 8 30 -22 7