Results for March 28/30, 2014
NK OSIJEK 3 – 2 GNK DINAMO ZAGREB
Osjiek decided it was time to take their future into their own hands on Sunday, and defeated reigning Croatian champions, Dinamo Zagreb, 3-2.
Dinamo traveled to Osijek’s Gradski Vrt to take on the last-place club with expectation of padding their lead in the HNL, but instead, suffered their first league defeat since Oct. 19.
After falling to last-placed Hrvatski Dragovoljac last week, Osijek found themselves at the bottom of the table. Sometimes, a week is what it takes to realize that their aspirations of staying in the top flight were fluttering away.
But Osijek did not flutter in the face of adversity, and with the backing of 6,500 of their fans at Gradski Vrt, Osijek played smart and dangerous.
Former Rijeka standout, Danijel Cesarec, had a monumental role in the clubs victory.
Cesarec scored the game’s first goal and put his team in the lead in the 41st minute.
Cesarec’s left-footed goal slid right passed several defenders and was out of the reach of Antonijo Jezina, who did not even make an attempt for the ball.
The 31-year-old striker that is on loan from Rijeka, scored again in the 69th minute.
The impressive goal came from a pass from Josip Misić, who fought off several Dinamo defenders in order to make the pass to Cesarec, who was left alone at the top of the penalty area.
Cesarac hit a convincing shot that blew by Jezina and hit the top netting inside the goal to put Osijek two goals ahead.
But the offensive power of Dinamo can rarely be held scoreless for long.
With the help of Duje Ćop’s back heel pass, Junior Fernandez scored in the 80th minute with a shot that deflected off an Osijek defender.
Osijek goalkeeper, Zvonimir Mikulić, was unable to properly rearrange himself after the deflection, and the ball snuck in the net to make it 2-1.
Only minutes later, Ćop found himself on the scoresheet again with a goal of his own.
Ćop tapped in the ball that was given to him near the penalty spot, and easily beat Mikulić, and tied the match in the dying minutes.
But Osijek’s persistence prevailed.
Defender, Borna Barišić, brought the ball up the left side and sent in a pinpoint cross to Misić, who met the ball with a strong diving header, leaving Jezina helpless as the ball went into the net in the 89th minute to get Osijek an outstanding and crucial victory.
“This means a lot to us,” Osijek coach Tomislav Rukavina said. “We knew that Dinamo a quality side, but we also knew that we can beat them if we play smart and with dedication.”
Osijek will try to continue their quest for salvation and staying in the Prva Liga next week when they take on Lokomotiva in Zagreb.
HNK HAJDUK SPLIT 3 – 1 NK ZADAR
Hajduk Split hosted NK Zadar on Saturday in a mini Dalmatian Derby at Poljud that finished with the hosts coming out on top.
Despite Hajduk’s scoring ability, Zadar started the match off with very open play, and did not sit back and bunker down to prevent Hajduk from scoring.
Zadar was quick with counter attacks, and their plan of action was to strike first, but their plan did not hold up, and Hajduk was first to get on the scoreboard.
Newcomer, Temurhuja Abduholikov, made his first start and second appearance for the Bili on Saturday, and also scored his first goal in a Hajduk jersey.
Hajduk captain, Mario Maloča, sent a thread-through-the-needle pass from behind the halfway line to Abduholikov, who received it just before the penalty area.
The 22-year-old Uzbek met Zadar keeper, Mladen Matković, one-on-one and calmly chipped it over him for his first goal.
Abduholikov’s goal also marked the first goal ever scored by an Uzbek in the history of Hajduk.
Abduholikov tried to double his tally with an impressive long-range shot in the 34th minute, but was denied by the crossbar.
Hajduk started the second half in the best possible way, by scoring in the 47th minute.
A poor and ineffective clearance attempt by Zadar’s Ante Šarić, led to Anton Maglica receiving the ball only yards away from goal, and easily putting it in for his first goal of the game.
Josip Tadić was able to cut the lead in half when he scored in the 65th minute.
A long ball was sent into the box by Sarić and brought down by Josip Ivančić, and Tadić finished with a sliding shot that beat the young Hajduk keeper, Fabjan Tomić.
But Maglica was there again to extend Hajduk’s lead when he scored on a one-on-one with Matkovicć, beating him with a firm shot to his left side.
Hajduk was given the chance to sore a fourth goal when Maloča stepped up to the penalty spot in the 80th minute, but Matković stayed strong and guessed correctly to make the save.
Maloča followed up for the rebound, but struck the post.
Hajduk secured the three points, and remain in third place, two points behind Rijeka, which of whom they face in the coming days.
The Adriatic Derby takes place at Kantrida on Sunday, and could very well determine who will clinch second place in the league.
NK ISTRA 1961 0 – 1 HNK RIJEKA
In a replay of last week’s Hrvatski Kup semi finals, Rijeka traveled to Pula to face their regional rivals from Istra.
Rijeka is in the middle of the Prva Liga’s biggest fight for second place.
Rijeka and Hajduk are vying point for points to see who will gain control of the second European spot to advance to the UEFA Europa League qualifiers.
With Hajduk defeating Zadar and gaining three points, it was crucial that Rijeka came out victorious as well to stay ahead, and that’s exactly what they did.
There were few true scoring chances for neither Rijeak nor Istra throughout the first half.
The main highlight of the first 45 was Krstanović’s eventual game winner from the spot due to Igor Cagalj’s sending off.
Cagalj took Andrej Kramarić down in the box, and was the last defender before the goalkeeper, leaving the referee no choice but to show a red card and award a penalty.
Ivan Krstanović stepped up and calmly placed the ball in the left corner of the net to put Rijeka up 1-0.
Istra was down a man for the remainder of the match, but it was hard to tell, as they played efficient and smart, even creating several offensive chances that goalkeeper Ivan Vargić had to come out to handle.
But despite the man-advantage, Rijkea remained only one goal up, and finished the match that way, going home with all three points.
Rijeka remain in second place, two points above Hajduk, but the two clubs face each other on Sunday, making it one of the biggest matches of the season.
NK LOKOMOTIVA 2 – 1 NK HRVATSKI DRAGOVOLJAC
There has been a lot of news surrounding the two Zagreb clubs lately regarding the legitimacy of them being in the Prva Liga.
Lokomotiva is celebrating their centennial this season, but is accused of being connected to Dinamo Zagreb, therefore should not be allowed to to compete in the same league as them.
Hrvatski Dragovoljac is facing a similar situation, with the HNS looking at the validity of their promotion to the Prva Liga this season. Some speculate that they did not meet financial obligations, and should not be eligible to play.
In a joint statement released by both club’s management before the match, the clubs stated their outrage at these accusations, and pledged their allegiance to each other and stated the importance of the NovoZagrebacka Derby.
Never in a hundred year history of Croatian football, despite a change in the state, political systems and rulers, has been reported such crazed public attack on our football clubs, organizations and individuals.
The two clubs also invited the fans to Maksimir stadium to watch the match for free.
Few fans took the club’s offer, but the fans who did attend were awarded with an entertaining match with a quick back and forth rhythm.
Mario Šitum got the derby’s first goal off a corner kick that was sent in from the right side of the field.
Šitum hit a volley with a high kick but Ivan Čović made the save, but pushed the rebound right back to Šitum, who did not miss on his second attempt.
The Volunteers thought they had tied the match in the 15th minute, but the goal was correctly ruled offsides.
Stipe Bačelić-Grgić stepped up to the penalty spot after being awarded the penalty in the beginning of the second period, but Oliver Zelenika was there to make the save.
The Lokosi would go on to score a second goal from Ante Budimir in the 73rd minute, but Bačelić-Grgić would end up scoring a goal in the 86th minute.
The goal was not enough though, and the Volunteers are back in last place after enjoying ninth place for a week.
Read the rest of the joint statement released by the two clubs here.
NK SLAVEN BELUPO 1 – 2 RNK SPLIT
Split advanced in fourth place on Monday with their win over Slaven Belupo in Koprivnica. Split went out ahead in the 39th minute when Davor Glavina scored. Slaven answered back in the 60th minute when the ageless wonder and the legend himself, Davor Vugrinec, scored his third goal of the season.
The 39-year-old has had 13 appearances this year, with one start, but he is still producing at a level that Slaven can find use for.
Tomislav Glumac rounded out the match with his game-winner in the 89th minute.
Slaven desperately needed the point from the draw, but were unable to hang on, and find themselves rapidly plummeting down the ladder.
Thank U O Lord, Thank U !! Bog, Hrvati, USA , Hajduk , i HNS !!!
Tima!
ok teta
Gradski Vrt ljubavi, not Gradanski 😉