The HNL Is Back! NK Osijek 2 – 1 GNK Dinamo Zagreb

Photo: Davor Javorović / PIXSELL

It has been a long time. A very long time. Seven years to be exact, since NK Osijek has defeated GNK Dinamo Zagreb. But on the returning match from the winter break, a match that was scheduled for December but was rescheduled to today due to snow, Osijek has done something that they last did in November of 2005.

After a two-month break, the HNL has returned. The match started on time, but heavy snow blanketed the frozen field. That did not stop some 2,000 dedicated fans to support their team.

It didn’t take long for the fans to get excited. Only 14 minutes into the match, Antonio Peroševič sent in a corner kick that was met by the head of Branko Vrgoč. Vrgoč’s first attempt was saved by Ivan Kelava, but Vrgoč beat the Dinamo defense to the rebound and sent it in for the opening goal.

Dinamo dominated in possession, holding over 60 percent of it through the first half, but Osijek’s notoriously stingy defense kept their scoring chances scarce.

Dinamo’s first attempt on goal did not come until the 22nd minute when Sammir put a low shot on frame, but was easily handled by keeper Zvonimir Mikulić.

Osijek continued to flex their defensive muscles in the second half. They played a tough line that did not allow the visitors to enter the penalty area and kept a minimum of eight players behind the ball at all time.

The Modri’s best opportunity for a goal came in the 62nd minute when Fatos Beqiraj sent in a cross to Ivan Krstanović who laid out a big side-volleyed shot that was seemed destined for the back of the net, but Mikulić made a full extension save, and kept Dinamo scoreless.

Dinamo was however finally able to find themselves on the score sheet in the 80th minute of play. A loose ball sent in from a corner kick was cleaned up by Arijan Ademi, who tapped it in with a sliding kick.

The 1-1 score did not last long. A quick counter attack from Osijek found Dinamo’s defense in disarray. A lofted cross from the left side drew Kelava off his line, but Domagoj Pušić beat him to the ball and tapped in the game winner in the 83rd minute.

“Of course I did not expect defeat, but that’s football,” Ademi said after the match. “We were better, we dominated the entire match, but Osijek defended well. Football is a game of goals, and they got one more than us and that’s the end of the story. This is just one game and we need to move on. Now we turn to the next match against Rijeka.”

There were several obvious factors that could be attributed to Dinamo’s loss.

The reigning Croatian champions had just lost Domagoj Vida, an integral part of the defense and a consistently solid player for the club. Vida was sold to Dynamo Kiev during the winter transfer period. This left a noticeable void in the back line.

A new addition to the back line was introduced on Sunday. 17-year-old Croatian U-19 international Tin Jedvaj made his debut for the Modri. The young center back was not at fault for either of the goals, but had little to show for in his debut other than several blocked shots.

This was also the first league match played without the talented Mateo Kovačić. Kovačić was sold to Italian giants Inter Milan this month for a fee reported to be an upwards of 11 million euros.

Dinamo was not the only club to lose valuable players. Osijek saw the sale of their goalkeeper Ivan Vargić and midfielder Vedran Jugović this winter. Both players were sold to HNK Rijeka for an estimated fee of 800,000 euros. It is no secret that the Osijek club are struggling financially, and were in need of some quick cash.

Osijek currently sit in seventh place behind RNK Split and face HNK Cibalia in week 20. Dinamo are approaching their toughest opponents in the schedule in the coming weeks. They face HNK Rijeka in week 20, and then have to prepare for a trip to Poljud to face Hajduk, and then receive a visit from the tough Slaven Belupo to close out the season. Dinamo are currently eight points clear of second place, but have much to think about after this loss.

NK Osijek: Mikulić – Ibriks, Vrgoč, Smoje, Lešković – Pušić, Kurtović, Mišić, Kvržić (od 90. Leko) – Pongračić, Perošević (od 90. Mandić)

GNK Dinamo: Kelava -Vrsaljko, Jedvaj, Šimunić, Ibanez – Ademi – Tomečak (od 59. Krstanović), Brozović, Sammir, Čop (od 87. Leko) – Beqiraj (od 77. Rukavina)