Dinamo Zagreb took care of business with a routine 4-1 win against Istra 1961 in front of 1,742 fans at Maksimir on Saturday.
Paulo Machado added to his wundergol count this season with a free kick from 20 yards out in the 11th minute to make the score 1-1.
Machado’s last goal was the late-game equalizer against Hajduk last week, but this goal was just as important and left Ivan Brkić completely stunned in goal.
Angelo Henriquez returned to the lineup after a minor injury and showed that he was back to being 100 percent and netted a goal in the 32nd minute.
The 20-year-old Chilean international who is on loan from Manchester United is expected to remain with the Modri through their inevitable European campaign. Henriquez has netted 10 goals in his 17 appearances with Dinamo.
Dinamo’s own, Dino Špehar, scored his second goal for Istra since being sent there on loan by his parent club.
Špehar chased down a through ball and left defender Ogdjen Vukojević in his dust and beat Eduardo in goal.
The goal came in the 42nd minute and gave Istra hope for salvaging a point in their crucial mission for survival, but Dinamo answered back 90 seconds later with a goal from Marko Pjaca.
Pjaca would double his tally in the 72nd minute to give the final score of 4-1.
Istra finds themselves again in last place on the table and will be fighting to avoid regulation.
Hajduk Split found themselves on the wrong side of a 2-0 scoreline against NK Zagreb at Kranjčevićeva.
Several modest chances for both teams came in the first half, but it was Zagreb goalkeeper who shined the brightest in the first 45 minutes.
Dominik Livaković stood strong against several Hajduk opportunities, including most notably his save against Anton Maglica in the 40th minute.
Maglica’s shot from eight yards out met the hands of Livaković after he displayed smart and lightning-fast goalkeeping to keep the teams even at zero goals a piece.
But Zagreb broke through in the 65th minute thanks to a goal from Gabrijel Boban.
Boban and Lovro Medić found themselves on a two-on-one with the Hajduk defense. Medić floated a short pass over the head of Dinko Mikanović and Boban gently floated the ball over Lovre Kalinić’s head and into the goal.
Hajduk had the opportunity to equalize in the 71st minute thanks to a chance from the penalty spot When Robert Mudrazlja committed a foul in the box and received this second yellow of the day, leaving Zagreb with only 10 men.
Tino-Sven Susić stepped up to take the penalty, but Livaković once again stayed strong and saved the free shot from 12 yards away.
Zagreb wasn’t phased by the man disadvantage and quickly scored a second goal when Filip Kovinović scored in the 76th minute to double the lead and give Zagreb the 2-0 win at home.
Hajduk are now four points back from third place, and four points ahead of Zagreb who are in fifth.
Rijeka and Osijek played to a scoreless draw to kick off the match week on Friday at Gradski Vrt in the Garden City.
Osijek could surely be pleased with the point, but Rijeka will be chalking this one up as lost points and reluctantly split the points with Osijek.
The first half was plagued by missed opportunities and and lacked any sort of quality, but the two sides turned that around in the second half, both having several near goals, but none that put either team ahead.
Rijeka still remains in second with a safe distance from any team behind, but also remain an even bigger distance behind Dinamo at the top of the table.
Lokomotiva put in the minimum amount of work to achieve victory against RNK Split, and were able to do it in Split’s own home.
In front of 500 people in Split, Lokomitiva were able to win 1-0 in one of the toughest stadiums to play.
Lokomotiva’s lone goal came from Franko Andrijašević who scored the goal of goals with his “eurogoal” in the 49th minute.
It started with a corner kick that sent the ball into the box. After several bounces and clearance attempts, the ball came to Andrijašević who hit the ball on the volley from 25 yards out and put it in the top shelf of the goal.
That golazo was all that was needed and Lokomotiva took the 1-0 victory back home to Zagreb.
NK Zadar stole a victory from Slaven Belupo on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Stanovi Stadium.
Zadar’s one goal in their 1-0 win came in third minute Jure Jerbić after a corner kick that was sent to the far post and headed on frame.
Slavens goalkeeper made an attempt at batting the headed ball away but knocked it onto the post and then bounced out to Jerbić.
Jerbić seemingly put the ball in the net by using his elbow of bicep, but it went unnoticed by the judge and ruled a good goal.
“It is not for me to judge from the coaching bench,” Slaven coach Ante Čačić said about Zadar’s goal after the game. “It was reportedly a handball, but I will still check the tape. My players have nothing to be ashamed of. They played very well and fought hard, but then we did also failed to score at least one goal. ”
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The league will take a short one week break due to the match between Croatia and Norway, but will resume play on the week of Friday, April 2.
Milan, SN1 is showing the game.
Livakovic is an excellent goaltender.
Not sure why we waste our time calling up Lovre Kalinic. Dude is SMOTAN as hell. This isn’t the first game where he’s made mind-boggling blunders like this.
Two times he’s caught rushing out and having the ball lobbed over his head with ease?
The first time he hesitated, giving the ZG player the chance to lob it. The second time, he flat out runs outside his box with his arms up? That would’ve been a straight red if his hand touched that ball.
Isuse.
is there any channel in Canada that is showing the HRV-NOR game?