Dinamo Zagreb has extended their impressive unbeaten run at home to 76 consecutive matches with their 2-0 win over RNK Split on Saturday.
Split has also been known to be a tough team at their own home, but Dinamo reigns supreme, having lasted nearly six times longer.
Angelo Henriquez scored his 12th goal with Dinamo in the 17th minute from the penalty spot after Tomislav Radotić appeared to take down Endrija Cekicija but after a closer look, Radotić did not touch the Dinamo forward and the decision was harshly made against the Reds.
Henriquez made the penalty, but Danijel Zagorac made a solid attempt at the save and got a strong hand on the ball after diving to his left, but the shot was strong enough to get through into the net giving Dinamo the lead.
Junior Fernandez capped off the night with the second goal of the game after beating Zagorac on a one-on-one opportunity in the 34th minute.
Fernandez took the chance to celebrate the goal and wish his son a happy birthday with a message on his shirt.
Dinamo remained strong throughout the remainder of the match and took all three points from Split and retained an 11-point lead in the league while Split rests in seventh place.
An interesting match took place at Poljud on Sunday when Hajduk and Zadar played to a 2-2 draw.
Last place team Zadar showed that they are a capable team and took a 2-0 lead over the Bili by the 18th minute after goals from Drago Gabrić and Franje Cirjak.
Members of Torcida had since seen enough after watching their team shocked by the team that sits in last place in the league.
Fans started chanting obscenities towards the team and threatened the players with violence.
The power of persuasion by the fans seemed to pay off as Hajduk was able to reduce the deficit to only one goal after Andrija Balić scored in the 69th minute.
The goal gave Hajduk to boost of confidence they needed to score another goal seven minutes later, this time from Anton Maglica.
Neither team should be satisfied by the result as Zadar had a two-goal lead well into the second half that they dwindled away and Hajduk let a far weaker side run all over them for a majority of the match.
Even after the final whistle, Hajduk fans still chanted and threatened violence against the players for their performance.
The Bili remain in fourth place, three points ahead of Zagreb.
Rijeka also disappointed in their match at home, tying Slaven Belupo 1-1 at Kantrida.
Slaven took the lead in the 33rd minute after a goal from Ivan Parlov, but their lead lasted only seconds as Rijeka scored seemingly at will and scored they tying goal in the 34th minute, thanks to a beautiful shot from Alex Fernandez.
Fernandez’ shot was something out of FIFA 15 and sent in a bending shot left foot shot from the top of the box that ended up in the upper left corner of the goal.
Rijeka continued to knock on the door of Slaven’s goal but Ivan Kardum was the difference maker that day and made sure the Pharmacists protected the score.
The match would end with the teams splitting the points, again leaving Rijeka with a missed opportunity to keep pace with the top of the table.
A truly impressive display came from an unlikely source this weekend when Osijek entered Kranjčevićeva and beat NK Zagreb 4-0, thanks impart to Aljoša Vojnović’s three goals.
Prior to the match, Vojnović was quoted saying that they “were only interested in victory” and that is exactly what was on his mind.
Osijek had several chances early in the match to take the lead, but were unable to capitalize on any of them until the 38th minute when Antonio Perošević scored the first goal of the game.
Then came the flood.
Aljoša Vojnović scored his first goal in the 59th minute to make it 2-0, then scored again in the 68th and 82nd minute to cap off his hat trick.
Osijek desperately needed the three points to further distance themselves from the relegation zone and now sit in eighth place, three points clear of danger.
Istra welcomed NK Lokomotiva to Pula to start off the match week on Friday but ended splitting the points after a 1-1 draw.
Dario Tomić put Istra in the lead in the 23rd minute but Marko Kolar was there to save the Lokosi from the dredges of defeat late in the game in the 88th minute with the game-tying goal.
Istra’s struggles continue as they find themselves in the relegation playoff spot, only two points ahead of Zadar.
You little flirt.
@ Ante B.
I heard your going to Maksimir to celebrate the ‘decima’ at the end of the season. Sve nabolje!
Reading some other comments…
-Yes, the league is a sinking ship if things don’t change.
-Hajduk is worse off now than before and they have an entire soccer federation agains them. However that doesn’t dismiss the fact that they are in tons of trouble.
-Ziva referred to the stadiums and I agree to one extent: you have to change the infrastructure of all of the stadiums. Have you ever truly the full extent of the damage underneath Maksimir? It’s a shit hole trying to be covered with 1980s wallpaper. For me personally, I don’t need wifi, but I do like cleaner bathrooms. At Maksimir you can literally piss and shit anywhere and it doesn’t make a difference. I don’t need a roof either. Same applies to Kantrida, Gradski Vrt, Stanovi, etc. Poljud is no different either but it is newer and somewhat better shape.
-also what needs to change to bring the fans back is that stupid bullshit Zakon o sprjrcavanju nereda na sportskim natjecanjima. A change at the top of the HNS wouldn’t hurt either.
Spremni.
Maminjo,
You definitely live up to your name especially after that wool over everyone’s eyes novel. Only Mamic himself could say it better.
There is no way the quality has gotten better at the HNL. Whether it be attendance, TV ratings, ili koja god picka materina, it is a joke league. The only reason they’re getting paid is through illegal contracts and shody business tactics and cronyism/nepotism. Hell, I can run a solid company if I wasn’t subjected to things like corruption, bribery and conflict of interest.
What has Dinamo done in Europe? Nikaj. Except ALMOST break the record of most losses and lowest attendance. And that’s from a dinamovac.
I simply do not subscribe to what you write but hey, others might.
The savez and the club acted like nothing took place. They had fake tears for the kid, but hardly anything changed.
Bjezigrad at its finest, I guess. No other explanation.
I never got how it was built in the 70’s and is such a piece of shit already…? Granted, I’ve never visited Stanovi in person, but isus crist… a fucking player died of the rickety construction of the stadium and it’s still standing and hosting games week in, week out.
Prva Liga. Gotta love it.
Stanovi just might be the worst stadium in the world for a first division team. The locker room is a square box and nothing more.
^^^ Probably what will happen. that Zadar game was rescheduled to next Friday btw.
@Dukic – A house behind the goal of Stanovi? Damn. Count me in on that next time they party there.
ajme meni nije mi dobro, ajme meni ja sam ARMADA
speaking of Rijeka…
they beat Loko today 4-1, onto the semifinals
would be nice to get the winner of Zadar-RNK and then play Europski Dinamo in the final
ajme meni nije mi dobroooooo, ajme meni ja sammmm ARMADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Idiocy? Maybe a little, but I have to say, I respect them. They drove from Rijeka to Zagreb on a Wednesday night in the rain to support the team they support every week. That’s dedication. They love what they do and do what they love. Nothing wrong with that. Plus, the league needs a few hardcore fans like that. That’s hard work and I applaud them. You won’t see me in that weather supporting my team, but the ZDS needs include love, support, dedications dn hard work like that. 😉
however….
#basementlifeisthegoodlife
what kind of lives do these 20 people live?
dude, they are part of an ultras group? what do you expect them to do? sit at home on the sofa, munching on cheetos, drinking a pepsi, checking facebook and watching the HD stream? while mama is making supper upstairs?
moj ziva… we can’t all be basement dwellers! I use to be one (and my basement was finished with a kitchen, nice bathroom with a big shower, had a nice TV room, big bedroom, etc.) but then you become an adult and move on my friend…
Yep, he got me. Oh my!
Watching a soccer game in terrible conditions is not the “za dom……spremni” lifestyle. What it is, is pure idiocy.
Ooh Živa, Colin got you there.
Surprised you didn’t recognize a ZDS act as it was being committed.
Ko ne skače Pravoslavac, je! Je!
@Armada
Re: the Buffalo Bills pissing trough…you just had to be there. This story may have given you a laugh, but you’d cry if you had to piss there.
White-trash dudes with their dicks hanging out, sandwiched shoulder-to-shoulder (and in many cases, forearm-to-forearm) pissing into a trough that was obviously built by guys with a good sense of humor.
If you even have an INCH of space between you and the guy next to you, then you should fully expect a dude trying to sandwich himself between the two of you (in many cases with his dick already hanging out).
You think the pitch at Poljud has drainage issues?
This trough is completely horizontal. Almost like it was done on purpose. You’re literally pissing into a pool of piss that has been sitting there for who knows how long. It only drains slightly, probably during halfime when this bathtub is being subjected to a hundred gallons of urine at a time.
I can tell you for a fact Stanovi used to be packed house in late 90s. Those were fun matches. A family used to have a house in the stadium behind the goal. It was totally balkan all the way.
Clearly, the ZDS lifestyle you advocate for so much. Look at that love for Croatian nogomet and dedication to sit out in the cold and rain to cheer their team. Plus, I have on good authority that they read, write, and speak the language very well.
the question needs to be asked……….what kind of lives do these 20 people live?
Ha about 20 members of Armada just showed up i the 20th minute. Props to them.
The public has no faith in the people who run the leagueand federation and that is why they dont watch.
We can have the next Messi running around in the league and the public wont come out in big numbers because nothing transparent about the league.
Oh yeah, I remember seeing videos of Dinamo games in the 80s and 90s and even into the early 00s of 30k+ at Maksimir at Poljud, but 25k at Kantrida is impressive. Just wondering what Zadar and Segesta and Slaven and HNK Suhopolje or Mladost 127 whatever it was called were pulling in in their time in the HNL.
Checking up on a stream for Rijeka-Lokomotiva at Kranjceviceva for the second leg of the Cup quarterfinals right now (it’s a slow day at work). Granted, it’s a Wednesday night and it’s pouring and cold in Zagreb but it doesn’t look like there’s a soul in the stands. Zadar – RNK Split got rained out tonight. Stanovi was underwater. Forget wifi, put a damn drainage system in some of the stadiums.
@ Colin
Not quite 20 years ago, but apparently Kantrida’s record attendance was 25k vs. Osijek in 98/99.
I want to say in general, attendance numbers were higher back in the day. Look at Dinamo vs. Hajduk games from the 90’s on YouTube. Those games always looked packed. Even Dinamo-Rijeka games too.
as Ziva mentioned, we aren’t saying a mid-season game between RNK Split and Istra should draw 10k. Anything above a few thousand would be great for teams like that.
but for the end of the yeaqr derby between Dinamo/Hajduk (especially if they are close in the standings somewhat) Poljud or Maksimir should draw 10k+ at least. Same for Rijeka/Hajduk at Poljud or say when the new Kantrida is built.
Any idea of attendance figures from like 20 years ago for teams other than Dinamo or Hajduk? Like, What was Zadar pulling in at Stanovi in ’94? Have those numbers gone up or down at all? Dragovoljac came in third place in 1997. Does anyone even know any hardcore Dragovoljac fans?
the current people running the HNL will never allow the league to reach its potential. Even if you remove Dinamo’s attendance, the rest of the league still draw minimal numbers. Rijeka and jadan, mali i nemocan hajduk can draw something. The rest of the league zero. People refuse to watch knowing who the league is led by.
@ Maminjo
“Yes, they also have a terrible bathroom, but guess what…so does Buffalo Bills stadium with that giant disgusting pissing trough that you and 50 other men are simultaneously pissing into (and onto each other in some cases). But at least Hajduk isn’t charging you $100 bucks a ticket to have to piss like a stoka with 50 other drunken djubre.”
this gave me a good laugh bro haha thanks!
Poglavnik.. I will only buy the data stick on one condition… ziva finally fully embraces twitter and hashtags some photos from poljud
#jadnimalinowifipeeinmycuppoljud
idea for fundraiser… would need pretty well all the hrvati in the world and the fake ones that don’t live the zds lifestyle
buy rijeka and apply to play in the italian league where they belong and stack it with all our stars and win the champions league
Poglavnik… I’ll buy ziva a freaking data stick or whatever those things are so he can update how shitty poljud is while watching the shitty HNL eating his shitty ass whatever they serve there for food… but he will be internet connected!!!
Objectivity? Oh man, give me a break.
Anyone with a pair of eyes and at least half a brain will tell you that the league has gotten significantly better in terms of quality of play. Just looking at the quality of European teams that Dinamo, Hajduk, Rijeka, and even RNK Split has been beating in recent years is a HUGE improvement.
When Rijeka knocked out a mid-table Bundesliga team in Stuttgart last year for Europa qualification, your head probably exploded in disbelief. There was a time when MAYBE one of our clubs would even qualify for Europa, and this past season we almost had FOUR. Actually, our 4th placed HNL team in RNK Split has come one goal shy on two separate occassions.
Your reason for this improve in qualifying “is because there are more chances to qualify now”? What does that even mean? Our teams are still being put up against the Stuttgarts, the Chornomorets, the Torinos, the Sherrifs, the Dnipros…just to get into the Europa League. There has been no dropoff in difficulty to qualify for Europa. Yes, Champions League definitely, but not Europa. Our coefficient rating has gone up A LOT in recent years too, so UEFA seems to think our league has gotten better.
Attendance and TV ratings are lower? Really?
Attendance has always been mediocre. There has been a dropoff in Dinamo’s games only, due to the row between BBB and Mamic.
As for your TV rating comment…you’re just being deceptive. We both know that the HNL’s TV rights were purchased by MaxTV (who are owned by Deutsche Telekom) and now viewers no longer get the games televised on the free state-owned channels anymore. You have to pay extra…a LOT extra (North American prices) to watch HNL games. So, people just watch the games at the cafes now, and no longer watch them at home. But I think it was a nice attempt for you to paint a false picture there.
Also, you thinking that HNL clubs being able to sell players for 7-figures doesn’t mean the league is better…is your opinion. But teams don’t come knocking on your door and offering you millions of dollars if they don’t see something they like. This is bringing in money, has paid off some debts as well as player salaries. This is a process and takes time.
Two years ago, Hajduk was on the verge of folding. Now, even you, are saying that the criminal element there is pretty much gone. They still have a terrible pitch, but again, you need to prioritize. They paid off their debts, their player salaries, and I’m sure they will look at putting some money toward operational cost, like maintaining that pitch. It’s all prioritization right now after digging yourself out of a hole.
Yes, they also have a terrible bathroom, but guess what…so does Buffalo Bills stadium with that giant disgusting pissing trough that you and 50 other men are simultaneously pissing into (and onto each other in some cases). But at least Hajduk isn’t charging you $100 bucks a ticket to have to piss like a stoka with 50 other drunken djubre.
Yes, there is still corruption in the HNL, and the stadiums need a makeover. Rijeka has already started on their new stadium. Hajduk has reduced corruption in their organization. Maybe this privatizacija at Dinamo can trigger some changes there. I dunno. Either way, it’s been improving and is definitely NOT a sinking ship like you and Armada are making it out to be.
Not happening. This guy will not play for Cro. Just because he gains citizenship doesn’t mean he will be called up to the repka.
http://newamericamedia.org/2015/01/croatia-seeks-to-naturalize-korean-soccer-player-for-its-national-team.php
Chung Woon to be a nationalized croat? Really? Wtf…
@dannyj
Ziva should start a Croatian Sports Report fundraiser for stronger WiFi at Poljud
@Maminjo…….no pessimism, just objectivity.
Has the league not gotten significantly better these past 10 years? I dont know. Attendance and TV ratings are lower. So, you tell me.
The reason there is jump in qualifying is because there are more chances to qualify now. With the Europa Cup, there are more opportunities to play european matches. It is a watered down product. So, of course more of our teams will make it.
Clubs being able to sell players for 7-figures doesn’t mean the league is better. Cro will always produce talent, always!!!! But, that doesn’t equate to a watchable league. Dinamo’s own fans wont attend matches because they realize the league is a shit product.
I want a product that actually tries to bring people in and the old school mentality of “here we are, now show up”. There are way too many other entertainment options in today’s age.
The people who run this league only care about their own asses and protecting themselves in those positions. The public isn’t stupid (ahem, hercegovci). There is a reason why they refuse to watch and attend matches.
I’m not saying they need $100 million stadiums. What they need are clean stadiums that are safe. Wifi, better food and beverage options dont cost millions, neither does enhanced suites and clean restrooms.
People would show up to games is my point if the above things mentioned would change.
Derbi’s (vjecni, jadranski, Dinamo-Rijeka, Rijeka-Istra) would definitely get better attendance.
Unfortunately, a game between say RNK Split and Lokomotiva will still get 50 people a game… But my point is the end of the season vjecni derbi should get 15k-20k if both teams are competitve and the uprava for this league wasn’t such a joke.
@ Maminjo
In the later part of my last post, I was not referring stadium enhancements, having competitive teams, etc.
The reason is corrupt, inept leadership leading both the teams and the entire league. I mean look at Dinamo… They’re on the way to making a nice piece of history (10 straight titles), they have a number of potential future NT players on the side and I bet you they have a lower average attendance than Medvescak. While BBB is not a bunch of Einsteins … there is a reason they show in numbers to the Dinamo FUTSAL games and not HNL NOGOMET games.
Same with Hajduk (look at the Tudor fiasco, Brbic’s backdoor dealings, etc.) and Rijeka (somehow not relegating 4-5 years back when they finished in the relegation zone)
The Croatian public isn’t stupid here…
If the league wasn’t corrupt and ran by a group of imbeciles, no one would care that Maksimir’s bathrooms are at a 3rd world level – or that Hajduk’s pitch consistently looks like a bunch of stoka have been grazing on it – or that Stanovi is literally falling apart.
i truthfully don’t know nuff about the HNL, but ya its not some killer league but it gives all the young kids a chance to play a good level of soccer from a young age and are going on to some of the highest places in the world
so in that sense its doing its job
again i come from a hockey background but i know this playing with strong competition can greatly service the young who are talented and so it does this
too bad some of the kids are sold so young however hopefully some of the money can be used to get wifi for ziva
Love the HNL. Sick of the whiners on here.
@Živa and Armada
Why the pessimism?
Has the league not gotten significantly better these past 10 years?
Lots of debts bring paid off, no more player strikes, significant jump in qualifying frequency for European leagues, more teams (outside of Hajduk and Dinamo) making transfer sales with big clubs, etc.
If I told you 10 years ago that RNK Split, NK Zadar, Slaven Belupo, Inter Zaprešić, Osijek, and even frigging Cibalia would be making million dollar transfers with teams in the Liga Petice… You’d think I was crazy.
Your main argument is just stadiums really, but stadium investment is a huge cost that will always come last. Rijeka addressed all their main issues first, put together a competitive product, and now will build a stadium. None of these teams will make any money on ticket sales due to low city populations and low disposable income. The operating costs of a restaurant laden, HD, WiFi stadium will not be covered, not to mention the build cost. I don’t know what you expect.
Having a functional league with a few competitive teams in European competitions is very much punching above our weight. Further improvement along this trend and we could be a top-15 league in Europe. Yet we’re not satisfied unless these teams invest $100 million into their stadiums shortly after finally paying off their debt?
I think some people just want to complain.
I’m one of those five.
Thank you Colin.
Bravo dinamo. Love the hnl and the future Nt players coming from it.
@Armada……correct. in a perfect world we would see one of the HNL teams make the CL once every three years or so. The qualifying to get in is watered down now and allows the league champs from these smaller leagues an opportunity to get in. I don’t like the changes UEFA made, but it does allow the smaller clubs a chance to play with the big boys.
In Europa League, our club teams should have at least one, probably two competing every year and making it to the knockout rounds every other year.
Anything more would be extra.
The people who run the HNL and many of the clubs operate under the motto that people should show up because its soccer. Those days are long gone. This is entertainment and you have to find ways to entertain people at games. If the product on the field doesn’t do it, then you have to find other ways to do it. if that means better dining options, then you do it. If that means a restaurant/lounge area where people can watch sporting events on TV, then you do it.
I’d just be content with a somewhat strong Dinamo/Hajduk/Rijeka 3 team race at the top, with one team making CL groups on a somewhat regular basis (and hopefully getting a point or two in the process) and the 2 others having decent EL runs on a somewhat regular basis, I’d be with the HNL.
But for those that know…. it’ll take a lot more for this sinking ship known as the HNL to turn itself around. There is a reason some games attract less fans than a mid-tier high school American football game here in the US….
and until those issues are resolved, fans won’t show up and no money will be invested into the league.
The HNL will always produce talent. Always has and always will.
The problem with that, the talent on the field wont draw people to the stadiums to watch. The league and how it is run is still a joke. As long as Mamic has control, nobody will take the league seriouslly. He had a leading role in referee assignments, we still have the whole dinamo/Lokomotiva saga. We still have players going without paychecks for months. Hell, Males proved how corrupt the whole thing is (hajduk included) and nothing happend. In fact, you still have the same slimeballs involved with the league.
And I mention all of this before we get into the infrastructure debate. Stadiums are crap, no roofs, no suites, no HD boards, no wifi, lack of quality food and drink, uncomfortable seats, lack of quality and clean restrooms, lack of protective parking, etc… I can go on. Look at what took place at NK Bjezigrad’s stadium a few years back. A player died on the pitch because of lazt safety standards – and they continue to play in that dump.
good luck with that……..those crazy fans will never allow the club to be privatized.
Plus, privatization is no lock to work. You can get somebody in there who has no clue how to run a club.
There is a better chance of STD Corluka going one month without picking up a wart, there is a better chance of Kranjcar losing weight, there is a better chance of Ivanisevic making smart business desicions than jdan, mali i nemocan hajduk being privatized.
Oops, I meant to say 10-team, not 12-team.
HNL has gotten a lot better these past 10 years.
The quality of players have gone up. We’re not losing to teams like Shelbourne and Debrecen anymore, and are actually beating or drawing teams like Dnipro, Sevilla, Feyenoord, Malmo, and Stuttgart. This was unheard of in the mid-2000s.
The 12-team format works well, and teams seem to be paying their players on time.
It’s still a two-horse race (which is a problem in most European leagues) but Hajduk will eventually turn it around, and become competitive. If there truly is a buyer for Pula (or if some other team somehow emerges) we could have some decent parity on the top third of the league.
The only major drawback now is that our youngsters are being sold earlier, but this is probably the reason why HNL teams have become more financially ept in recent years. We’ve got teams like Zadar making direct transfer sales to big clubs like Chelsea (another unheard of feat from 10 years ago).
I don’t like that we’ve been taking on foreign vet players in place of where these homegrown youngsters would play, but that’s the trade off.
Hajduk propa totalno. Bas jadan, mali i nemocan. Torcida need to be realistic. These are children playing here. Privatizacija is the only way to get back up unfortunately.
@Colin…….exactly. One day the rest of these guys will figure it out
The problem with my beloved jadan, mali i nemocan hajduk is they are now paying the price for the years of inept leadership. Their financials are in the best shape they have been in the last 10 years. Debt has been lowered and their operating model is much better now. I’m not saying it is ideal, but this is going to be part of the growing pain now as they try to recover.
This league will only be mildly interesting moving forward. Young kids will continue to leave before the age of 20, 21. And to be honest, they should leave. The public has access to more entertaining leagues via HD TV, leagues that have a better reputation when it comes to gambling and matches not being rigged. All things being equalued, more people are going to stay at home or go to cafe to watch an EPL, Bundesliga, La Liga or Serie A match than watch the drek that is the HNL.
Ha, no one’s ripping on anyone. That was Ziva’s way of showing appreciation because everyone knows that he is one of the five regulars who check this post for updates. I mean, he comments on it every week. 😉 I appreciate the love from everyone.
If Hajduk would get their business in order, they could make it a three team contest. It’s just not as interesting when they are bad and the league is barely contested by two teams. They need some more players like in the first picture.
Count me amongst those 5!
Great work Colin!
@marko……I am not ripping Colin. I am sure the five people who rely on this to het cro league updates are thrilled. There is a reason why this post only gets a handful of replies and comments. Because nobody cares about the league. Look at attendance figures in cro and look at the tv ratings for matches of the cro league.
Thank you buddy!!!!!
Hvala Colin,
Though I hate to see Rijeka dropping points.
@Colin – That response was priceless, and it needed to be said!
Well done for continuing to post updates on the HNL, which I’m sure the vast majority of people on this board appreciate – even if the stadiums may not have wifi.
Dinamo – Split at Maksimir – 1,270
Rijeka – Slaven at Kantrida – 4,000
Istra – Loko at Aldo Drosina – 1,500
That’s all the info I could find. I have all five games’ attendance from last week in last week’s post. Check that. I’m sure they’re similar to this week’s attendance if you’re that interested/need more ammo to make fun of the league/build your argument of why all stadiums need wifi.
Attendance please????????
Man, watching those Rijeka highlights…Radosevic has a bomb of a long range shot.
This guy needs to continue playing first team football, continue his development, and eventually get called up.