MaxTV Prva Liga Week 24 – Videos, Updates, and More ***UPDATED***

 

 

Results for Feb. 28 – March 2, 2014

 

 

GNK DINAMO ZAGREB 2 – 1 NK LOKOMOTIVA

 

 

Mario Šitum scored the opening goal in the match and gave Lokomotiva hope of beating their inter-city opponents for the first time in the history of the Prva Liga.

But Marcelo Brozović answered back quickly only eight minutes later and put to rest those dreams of the Lokosi defeating the mighty Dinamo.

Domagoj Antolić scored the eventual game-winning goal just before halftime to solidify a lead that would ensure Dinamo’s 12th consecutive victory over Lokomotiva, dating back to Lokomotiva’s entry into the Prva Liga in 2009.

The young Alen Halilović did not get on the score sheet this weekend, but created several chances that his teammates were unable to finish.

The 17-year-old has been all but transferred to Spain’s Barcelona for a rumored 15 million euros. He will remain at Dinamo for the rest of the season, but could be exiting for the European giants come this summer.

 

 

 

 

NK HAJDUK SPLIT 3 – 0 NK SLAVEN BELUPO

 

 

Hajduk Split welcomed Slaven Belupo to Poljud on Sunday and gave them a sound defeat with a score of 3-0.

Croatia’s “most loved team” scored quickly with a delightful goal from Franko Andrijasević.

Andrijasević hit a stunning header into the goal off of a brilliant cross from Avdija Vršajević.

Anton Maglica scored a similar goal in the 20th minute after receiving a pinpoint cross from Chelsea FC loanee, Mario Pasalić. Maglica would score again in the 65th minute, proving to Slaven who the better team was.

Despite the score, one of the best players on the field was Slaven goalkeeper, Tomislav Pelin.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper has made a career of playing second string to other goalkeepers, but has become the Pharmacist’s number one since the departure of Silvio Rodić, who is on loan to Polish club Zaglebie Lubin.

Pelin made several quick reaction and acrobatic saves that impressed even the Hajduk fans. With Pelin’s skills, Slaven was able to keep Hajduk from doubling the score.

This was Slaven’s first match with Elvis Scoria at the helm. Scoria has coached the club before in 2006, but rejoined after Mladen Frančić was releaved of his duties.

Scoria had to have been confident going into the match on Sunday, as he has a succesfull track record of opening matches as manager against Hajduk.

During his time at Istra, his club tied Hajduk 1-1 in his first match in charge. During his stint at Rijeka, his first match ended in a 1-1 tie against Hajduk. When he returned to Rijeka the next season, his first match in charge ended in another 1-1 draw against Hajduk.

But history was not on his side on Sunday, and a fourth 1-1 draw against the Bili was out of his reach.

 

 

 

 

 

HNK RIJEKA 4 – 1 RNK SPLIT

 

 

Just as many expected, Rijeka is doing just fine without the likes of Leon Benko.

After the departure of the league-leader in goals, Rijeka personnel and fans expected players such as Anas Sharbini, Andrej Kramarić, and Ivan Krstanović to shine in his place.

On Saturday against RNK Split, that is exactly what the three of them did.

Sharbini scored first in the 26th minute while Kramarić scored a double, leaving Split behind in the game.

Split captain, Goran Roce, was the loan scorer in a red uniform, scoring in the 51st minute, but scoring is not all the captain did in the game.

Split goalkeeper, Danijel Zagorac, was sent off after taking down Kramarić in the box in the 85th minute.

Having used all their subs, Split was unable to put in another goalkeeper, so Roce stepped up to try and defend Krstanovićs penalty shot.

Roce looked a little inexperienced in goal and made no attempt at Krstanović’s shot, but he remained in goal for the final five minutes of the match, facing no other shots.

 

 

 

 

NK OSIJEK 0 – 1 NK ISTRA 1961

 

 

Istra did the minimum required to defeat Osijek, scoring in the 40th minute off the foot of Dejan Radonjć.

The match was marred with physical play and eight yellow cards were issued to eight different players, including center back and former Croatian international, Luka Vučko.

Vučko just joined the club in late January after a transfer from American club, San Antonio Scorpions,who play in the NASL.

Vučko gave CroatianSports.com an exclusive interview last season during his successful time with the Texas club, but optioned out of his second year on his contract in favor of returning to Croatia.

 

 

 

 

NK ZADAR 0 – 4 NK HRVATSKI DRAGOVOLJAC

 

 

Hrvatski Dragovoljac put on a surprising and impressive display of offense on Friday in their match in Zadar.

Goals from Krešo Ljubičić, Jan Doležal, Filip Jazević, and an own goal from Ivan Šimurina were more than enough to defeat Zadar at their own stadium.

Doležal was sent off in the 57th minute after receiving his second yellow of the match, but the Volunteers were still able to keep Zadar from scoring, while putting two more goals in the net.

Is this the boost Dragovoljac needs to prevent them from relegation? This was the only Volunteer’s second win of the season, but they are only two points behind Osijek from ninth place.