Dinamo Zagreb’s Duje Čop scored the lone goal of the match against RNK Split in the 45th minute to ensure his team remained on top of the league table in this young season.
Čop’s sixth goal of the season was an impressive shot from 20 yards out. Josip Šimunić started the attack and sent the ball in the middle of the field where Čop wound up and curled the ball under the crossbar for the game’s only goal.
Both clubs are preparing themselves for their next match in the Europa League, and the coaches were concerned about the fatigue of players brought on by such a busy schedule.
“This rhythm is obviously taking a toll on the players, we have to understand, but we struggled last season. In Europe we have surprised many and has given us these extra duties and matches,” Split coach Ivan Marić said.
Some of Dinamo’s youngest players remained on the bench on Friday as well due to illnesses. Marcelo Brozović was benched with a fever while Jozo Šimunović had “some problems” and missed out on the match.
HNK Hajduk Split put on a goal-scoring clinic against NK Zadar on Saturday, beating them 6-0. This marks the second match in a row where Hajduk has scored five or more goals in one match.
Mijo Caktaš got the party started with a penalty in the 12th minute to make it 1-0. Only a few minutes later, Ante Maglica scored his first of two goals of the match, which was quickly followed by Jean Kouassi scoring his first of two goals as well.
The 22-year-old newcomer, Sando Gotal scored his fourth goal of the season to make it 5-0 for the Bili. Gotal has been crucial asset in Hajduk’s attack since he joined the club. The Austrian has scored in four of the five matches he has played this season.
Hajduk have seemed to put their slow start to the season behind them and have climbed up the ladder to their current position of third place on the table.
HNK Rijeka remain undefeated in the season after shutting out NK Slaven Belupo at Kantrida this weekend.
Ivan Tomečak scored the first goal in the sixth minute of the match. Andrej Kramarić had yet another multi-goal game, scoring his first goal of the evening in the ninth minute.
Kramarić put his team up by three goals in the 35th minute with his ninth goal of the season. Kramarić leads the league in goals so far, scoring nine goals in five matches. Is that enough for Niko Kovač to take notice?
Rumors out of China report that former Rijeka superstar, Leon Benko, is not receiving his proper paycheck that was promised to him by his new club, Dalian Aerbin. This could lead to a possible move back to Croatia for the striker. Benko has only one goal since transferring to the Chinese club.
Another rumor creating news is that Rijeka coach, Matjaž Kek has been offered positions at other clubs. The Rijeka coach reportedly denied the offers, stating he “wants to remain at Rijeka forever.”
NK Istra got their first win of the season yesterday against a struggling NK Lokomotiva side.
Ante Rukavina put the Lokosi in the lead in the 14th minute, but Istra players scored three goals in the span of six minutes to put their team ahead 3-1.
Dejan Radonjić scored in the 51st minute, tying the match at 1-1, but 20-year-old Dino Špehar scored only five minutes later to make it 2-1 for Istra.
Radonjić score again seconds later to make the score 3-1 en route to their first victory of the season.
Dejan Čabraja scored for the Lokosi late in the game in efforts to mount a comeback, but the mountain was too high to climb, and Lokomotiva must spend the next week in last place.
“I’m very happy for the guys who really wanted to win,” Istra coach, Igor Pamić said. “Last week we conceded a goal due to carelessness. However, we have not fallen.
NK Osijek also fought hard for their first win of the season this weekend when they faced NK Zagreb in Zagreb.
Osijek struck first with a goal from Matej Jonjić in the 16th minute. Jonjić beat out four Zagreb defenders during a corner kick and headed the ball into the net.
But their lead was short lived as Zagreb tied the match with a penalty shot from Josip Jurendić.
Jonjić was the hero of the game for the second time when he scored the late game-winner in the 87th minute.
jm
I’ve been asking myself the same question about Kramaric.
so maybe some better informed, could help me out here.
what is up with kramaric?
he has been a goal scoriing machine for a kid
all time dinamo youth goal leader
25 interenational goals in 50 appearances
knocking in goals left and right in the hnl
why at the age of 23 has he not been a serious target of a foreing team whereas so many of these other cro youngesters are getting sold left and right? is there some kind of flaw in him?
Againist Modern Football!!
When I go to Dinamo games, one quick snap before the game begins and then I put it away. I’ve seen guys get pummeled for taking pics during games at “stari” Sjever. Lesson. Learned.
my mentality might be far different than the new generation but in my world, going to a soccer game is my escape and enjoyment I love the game and for the duration, I don’t want distractions…some guys like fishing, some like golf, some like playing poker….if you can’t go to a game that’s only 2 hours long including half time and be without “wifi” then I think you are more concerned with what you might miss on Face Book and Twitter or an update on TMZ…imagine your dad checking his iPhone every 15 minutes or better yet, imagine what he’d say to you if he was with you and constantly saw you glancing at your phone.
Like I said, I may be of the older generation but I just can’t imagine why anyone would go to a soccer game and check their phone for any reason other than an emergency phone call…just my opinion.
Benko should just come back to Rijeka. With him and Kramaric, I think they would have a good shot of keeping pace with Dinamo.
because we live in a modern world when we need to sytay connected. Hell, for example, i need the option of real time betting on games. When in a stadium I don’t ask for much. I want comfortable seats, good selection of food and bear, wi fi and HD scoreboard. If I don’t have that, then I rather stay home because I have all of that at home.
Who wants to sit in a stadium with bad seating and zero quality food and drinks???/
Or do you guys like the old days without modern day luxaries. If so, dont be hypocritical, watch a game in non HD tv screens from home that are not 60-plus inches.
Leon Benko just reported his Chinese team to FIFA re: unpaid wages.
So, which HNL team is he gonna sign with?
RNK Split? Slaven Belupo?
cant you just sit there and enjoy the bloody game.why do you need constant entertainment/info.instant gratification generation.shame on the small brain,lol
If I pay the money for a ticket I should be afforded modern day luxuries.
6-0 Baby ! Torcida & all of the Hajduk Nation are Back my Hrvati !! 2 Nights of parting with Cousin Šime & the Gang has been Wonderful ! Here We Come Baby ! PEACE & Love to All ! Bog, Hrvati , Hajduk , i HNS !!!
@Ziva
There’s a difference in having your face in your phone all day and having a quality scoreboard.
what ever happened to just enjoying the game and taking in the atmosphere
who the hell goes a few hours without using their phones these days?????
Next thing these clowns will say is that they are against an HD scoreboard.
^ ^
There is hope..
Can you imagine this. There are actually fans (small number) who are against wi fi in the stadium. They must not have smartphones.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/psv-fans-protest-against-free-wifi-in-stadium-183837500.html
Kramaric? Yeah, Jelavic could definitely be losing his spot to him soon, but Cop has a little bit of a ways to go before he proves himself. Scoring regularly in the HNL is great, but he needs to step up in bigger UEFA games before I want him with the big boys.
He’s still a possibility in the future though. With young guys coming up like Rebic, Kramaric, maybe Cop, along with vets like Mandzo, we should have some strong scoring power once Euros come around.
Čop with a very nice goal into that top right corner.
If he, along with Kramarić, can continue their scoring into these Europa league games, then it looks like Jelavić won’t even be fourth striker with these two being called up in addition to Olić and Mandžuka.