El Abri Hillel Soudani was the hero on Sunday when Dinamo edged out Rijeka 2-1 in one of the biggest matches of the season.
Dinamo has not been able to beat Rijeka in the past three matches, and were looking for redemption when they traveled to Kantrida.
Rijeka started the match with a forceful offense, and were clearly going for first blood. Unfortunately for the home side, their open play allowed Dinamo to strike first with a easy headed ball from Soudani.
Ivo Pinto, a defender himself, did something many strikers have struggled with in the past; took on Rijeka’s back line a lone.
Pinto’s impressive individual skill brought him through the defenders and into space where he could loft a gentle cross that Soudani scored easily with his head. His goal was very similar to his third goal in the Europa League match earlier this week against Astra FC where he uncontestedly headed the ball for a goal.
Andrej Kramarić kept the match tight with a goal of his own in the 58th minute.
The former Dinamo striker had to have been pleased with himself for scoring on his former club, who discarded him over a year ago.
Anas Sharbini sent a low firm cross in from the left side that was missed by a sliding Ivan Krstanović. Fortunately, Kramarić was trailing behind him and redirected the ball into the net to tie the match.
But it was Soudani again who saw his name on the score sheet, and scored an impressive goal in the 70th minute to help his team gain the most important three points of the season so far.
Soudani, who was aware of his surrounds and quick to react, left goalkeeper Ivan Vargić in disbelief when he score with a sliding kick while facing away from the net.
The loss left Rijeka with only their second loss of the season, and are now trailing Dinamo by four points. Both clubs needed a win to take the top of the table this week, and both clubs battled teams in the group stages of the Europa league earlier this week, but Dinamo proved that they can handle both European competition and defend the domestic championship.
RNK Split further proved their dominance at home over the weekend with an impressive 1-1 draw against their cross-town rivals, Hajduk Split.
Hajduk has now gone winless in their last four matches, with two losses and two draws, leaving them with only 12 points, nine points behind second place, Rijeka, and 13 behind first place Dinamo.
Ante Maglica scored for Hajduk in the 27th minute, scoring at the end of a give-and-go between four different Hajduk players.
Maglica tapped in a low rolling cross that goalkeeper Andrija Vuković could not reach and put his team ahead.
But the lead would not last into halftime thanks to a surprising goal by defender, Nino Galović.
Galović’s first goal of the season came from a blunderous clearance attempt by Hajduk’s goalkeeper, Lovre Kalinić.
Kalinić attempted to punch away a free kick, but made little contact with the ball and punched it right to the Split defender that finished the job and tied the match.
The teams deservedly split the points in Split after a lackluster match.
Hajduk remains in third place, but Split are only two points behind them, sitting in seventh place.
The score line read NK Lokomotiva 0 – 1 NK Zadar at the end of the match, but in reality, it should read NK Lokomotiva 0 – 1 NK Ćiro Blažević.
Ćiro the hero has made his triumphant return to the HNL, this time, as the hired man to save NK Zadar.
Since his return, he has coached Zadar for two matches, and led them to two victories and have brought them to fifth place, one point behind Hajduk Split.
The ageless coach of coaches – who is actually not ageless at all, coming in at the ripe age of 79 years old – is known for his outspoken and brazen nature, and his knack for discipline.
Ćiro entered the Zadar training site on his first day and announced that he will “turn these boys into men” by the end of the season, and it seems like he is staying true to his word.
Zadar’s victory came from the lone goal from Ivor Weitzer in the 16th minute.
Weitzer’s impressive goal came from a curling shot so nice, that David Beckham himself needed to applaud it. The shot curled past a desperate Lokomotiva goalkeeper, Darijan Radelić Žarko, who has taken place of Oliver Želenika who was sent on loan.
NK Zagreb traveled to Pula on Saturday to take on Istra. Istra has been unable to beat Zagreb in a league match since 2010, and this weekend was no different.
Matias Šulc scored first for Zagreb and held the lead for the majority of the match until Dario Tomić tied the match in the 80th minute.
Late in the game, it appeared that both teams would go home with one point each, but Dino Bevab stole all three points in the 90th minute, winning 2-1.
Zagreb have climbed the table to fourth place, where they are tied on points with Hajduk Split.
Slaven Belupo found their second win of the season against NK Osijek. The Pharmacists shut out the Osijek defense and scored two goals on them, one from Filip Ozobić and the legend himself, Davor Vugrinec.
Slaven remain at the bottom of the table, but are only one point behind Osijek for ninth place.
I mean looking like a fag is sorta his shtick though…
I’m watching this Barca game right now. One observation: someone needs to tell Rakitic to stop frosting his hair.
“Friends”
If you are going to make jokes about Rijeka, at least be accurate.
Since the mid 20th century, Rijeka and the surrounding area, has been a huge Serbian haven… I mean look at KN Armada even, you think it’s 100% Croatian? Fair amount of jugo lovers in the area too… All the Talijani fled between the 30’s-60’s… Plenty of proud Hrvati in Rijeka who live an extremely strict ‘za dom …. spremni’ lifestyle and a good smattering of Srbi and Bosanci. If you want Italian apologists, Istra still has a bunch of them, closer to Italy/Slovenija border.
might as well play the game in rijeka. the italian team would have the crowd behind them
They should have this game in Trst…. would of been a lot of fun. Guaranteed one fan group would be fined heavily or punished when the game was over … but would make for good TV? Plus Nereo Rocco is a 30k stadium rotting away getting 200 people a game for Triestina in Serie D.
Looks like the Italians know how to price tickets accordingly.
http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/invazija-na-san-siro-hrvatskim-navijacima-4500-ulaznica-za-italiju-cijena-10-eura-/773279.aspx
For the average Italian soccer fan, playing Croatia is not an attractive opponent (forget the fact they have never beaten us). So, they price the ticket accordingly. Unlike our savez. They price shit opponents in the same range as more attractive opponents.
Ciro kralj making my former club zadarkomerc a push for europa league!
Radost si mi grade dao, a ja tebi mladost cilu!
man, the over the top reaction from some of you, well just one…..
Modric is fine. He is not going to start every game. One of the advantages for a club like Real Madrid is being able to rest certain players.
http://www.managingmadrid.com/2014/9/16/6252905/real-madrid-basel-champions-league-2014-score-highlights
Read this about Luka in the first Champions League game last week.
No way James, Kroos Illar or Isco are all now prefered over Luka Modric, Real Madrid’s second best player last season -impossible.
Croatia vs Antwerp
Benzema didn’t play either. Maybe it’s called simply getting a rest? Rakitic didn’t play in Barca’s UCL game and he was fine. Players need rest on such a treacherous schedule for the elite clubs.
Great win Dinamo. Hvala Colin for the report.
Colin, good work on the write up. While I’m a Dinamo fan, I’m hoping Reijka can keep it close. Like say within 5 pts. Just to make it a tad interesting.
In other news, Modric’s position in the starting 11 is in jeopardy. He was kept on the bench against Elche today. Ancellotti opted to go with Rodriquez, Kroos, Illarramendi, and Isco.
If this combination clicks, and it looked good today. Modric could be the odd man out.
On a side note, Pasalic got some minutes for Elche. But he gave away a penalty.
hvala Colin
Benko still a top 5 HNL striker****
I would of brought back Benko as insurance, in the event some european team makes a nice offer for Kramaric that Rijeka can’t say no to…. Even with his time in China/BiH, he would still easily be one of the top 5 strikers in the HNL… not that that’s saying a lot…. but in regards to at least keeping pace with Europski Dinamo
I’ll take the over. I say by 10 points or more.
I’ll take the under that Dinamo win the league by less than 10 points…
I think it musts be said……congrats to dinamo on I winning another league title.
Also, my beloved jadan, mali i nemocan hajduk is closer to the relegation zone than dinamo in the standings.