MaxTV Prva Liga Week 30

 

 

Results for April 11-14, 2014

 

 

GNK DINAMO ZAGREB 4 – 0 HNK RIJEKA

 

 

Dinamo Zagreb stunned Rijeka with a four-goal win on Saturday at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb.

Rijeka has been closing in on the Croatian giants, and had an opportunity to come within only five points of the current Croatian champions.

But Rijeka’s aspirations of earning points in the match were quickly put on hold when Arijen Ademi scored in the seventh minute of play. Ademi’s goal came from a well-planned set piece that included several players and quick passes that led to Ademi finishing the play with a header into the goal.

Dinamo scored again from a set piece from nearly the same spot only four minutes later. This time, Josip Pivarić shot the ball from nearly 25 yards out right into the top right corner of the net.

Keeper Ivan Vargić desperately tried to reach the impressive shot, but it was well out of reach, and gave Dinamo an early 2-0 lead.

Duje Čop scored his league-leading 19th goal of the season after Vargić let up a lofty rebound that allowed Čop to score his goal with an “Olić-style” tap in.

Dinamo capped off the their first-half lead with one last goal, this time from Big Joe Šimunić.

Šimunić, who is suspended from all international competitions, including the World Cup, is still producing domestically, even at the age of 36.

Šimunić headed in a goal off a corner kick that just got by the six-foot-five Ivan Krstanović. Šimunić’s goal gave Dinamo its fourth and final goal of the match.

The Modri now hold a 11-point lead in the standings, with Rijeka still in second place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HNK HAJDUK SPLIT 1 – 0 RNK SPLIT

 

 

Spectators in Split enjoyed the Split Derby on Sunday afternoon at Poljud Stadium, and saw Hajduk come out with a hard fought 1-0 victory over their cross-town counterparts.

Chelsea player/loanee Mario Pašalić was the hero with his incredible goal from distance.

Pašalić scored the winner in the 40th minute from nearly 30 yards out, and beat Split goalkeeper, Danijel Zagorac.

Split had their share of opportunities in the first half from players such as Goran Roce and Henri Belle, but Lovre Kalinić made his return in goal for the Bili on Sunday after a long recovery from an elbow injury.

Kalinić was perfect in his return, saving every shot he faced from the tough Split side.

The second half started with several more chances for Hajduk to increase their lead.

Pašalić tried to double his tally, but missed an open net in the opening minutes of the half. Georgian, Temurhuja Abduholikov, who scored his first Hajduk goal only a week ago, made a bid for another one with a close-range header inside the six-yard box, but Zagorac was there to make the save.

Hajduk has been tailing Rijeka in the standings, and just made up crucial ground in the race for second place, but are still two points behind the club and rest in third.

 

 

 

 

 

NK ISTRA 1961  1 – 2 NK HRVATSKI DRAGOVOLJAC

 

The struggling Volunteers traveled to Istra on Sunday and earned their fourth victor of the season.

Stipe Bačelić-Grgić scored in the 49th minute from a close range shot that just got past goalkeeper, Igor Lovrić.

Bačelić-Grgić, a former player under Igor Pamić at Istra, tried not to celebrate his goal out of respect for the fans and his former club, but he could still not hide his enthusiasm as his teammates swarmed around him to celebrate.

But Sven Jajčinović had no problem celebrating his 82st minute goal that proved to be the game winner in the end.

But before the Volunteers were even finished celebrating, Istra struck back with a goal of their own.

Dejan Radonjić received a long pass right off the ensuing kick off and beat the defense to calmly chip Ivan Čović in goal.

It would be Istra’s only goal, and Dragovoljac went to take three more crucial points in their fight for survival.

They still sit in last place, but remain on two points behind Slaven Belupo, who earned three big points themselves this weekend.

The Volunteers coach, Davor Mladina was pleased with his team, and knew that the motivation from Slaven winning would help them play well.

“The psychological pressure before the match was great, especially because we knew the results that have been achieved the day before [by Slaven Belupo],” Mladina said. “We knew that this was for do or die for us and we knew it would be tough, but we were the ones that were slightly better and therefore deserved the win.”

Istra coach, Igor Pamić knows that there needs to be a few changes for his team in order for them to improve. Pamić reportedly denied offers to take head coaching positions at FK Sarajevo and NK Čelik Zenica, both in the Bosnian Premier League, because he stated he wanted to “be the first coach to coach Istra in Europe.”

Pamić has high expectations for his club in the future, but stated after the match that his team might have reached their full potential.

“I’m not angry at my players, I promise that. I’ve already warned some of them that they may have reached their limit. In this game, the must give their best. This time, they simply could not do any better, and that’s our reality. This however is no excuse,” Pamić said.

 

 

 

 

 

NK SLAVEN BELUPO 2 – 1 NK LOKOMOTIVA

 

 

The myth, the man, the legend, the ageless wonder; Davor Vugrinec led Slaven Belpo to their first victory since Oct. 20, 2013.

The 39-year-old striker scored two on Saturday against the visiting NK Lokomotiva to ensure his team gets three points in their quest for survival.

Vugrinec also established his legacy as the most-scoring player to ever play in Croatia’s Prva Liga, scoring his 141st and 142nd goals.

With little action in the first 70 minutes of the match, Vugrinec scored his first goal of the day in the 70th minute with a one-touch shot from just inside the penalty area.

A low, easy roller, that was hit with composure and skill beat Oliver Zelenika to put Slaven up 1-0.

Petar Mišić would tie the match up in the 80th minute, but Vugrinec answered right back only one minute later with an impressive long rand shot.

Vugrinec received the ball 25 yards from goal and took one step into the ball to send a scorcher in the back of the net.

With the stunning goal, Slaven went on to take three points and stayed two points out of the relegation zone for now.

Vugrinec’s goal is comparable to the beauties of Josip Pivarić and Mario Pašalić that were scored over the weekend as well, but to put it in perspective, Vugrinec scored his first professional goal in 1992 for NK Varteks, when Pivarić was three years old, and three years before Pašalić was even born.

 

 

 

 

 

NK OSIJEK 4 – 0 NK ZADAR

 

 

 

 

Osijek earned their third straight win on Saturday with a 4-0 victory over Zadar.

The win keeps them five points clear of relegation, and inches them closer to catching Zadar, who are in seventh place.

The Kohorts, Osijek’s ultras group, also celebrated their 26th birthday during the match with some impressive tifos and pyrotechnic displays.

Check out some of the stunning photos here http://www.ultras-tifo.net/photo-news/2415-osijek-zadar-12042014.html