July 16, 17 & 18, 2021
The opening week of the new season in Croatia saw a couple of surprise results, with champions Dinamo Zagreb unexpectedly losing at home to unfancied Slaven Belupo, whilst Hajduk’s hopes of making an early challenge received a bit of a damper by being held at Lokomotiva.
Unlimited numbers of spectators were permitted at matches, although all attendees had to show either an EU vaccination certificate, a negative PCR test within 72 hours, or a negative antigen test within 48 hours.
Friday July 16, 2021
GNK Dinamo Zagreb 0-2 NK Slaven Belupo ( att : 570 )
A major shock on the opening day as 12/1 outsiders Slaven Belupo beat red hot favourites Dinamo, who had all 7 of their Euro 2020 participants either starting or coming off the bench.
Slaven gave an early warning sign when Glavcic’s inswinging free-kick had beaten everyone and bounced up onto the bar. Dinamo’s best chance fell in the 35th minute when Kastrati ran onto a long ball over the defence and guided his side-footed volley onto the bar.
Slaven took the lead in the 50th minute, evergreen striker Ivan Krstanovic pounced on Dinamo keeper Dominik Livakovic’s awful attempt to play the ball outside of his area and shot into the unguarded net from over 35 yards out.
Dinamo predictably put the Slaven defence under a lot of pressure, and thought they had won a penalty in the 62nd minute when Ristovski went down after a challenge from the impressive 16 year old Zvonarek. The referee initially awarded the spot-kick but the decision was overturned by VAR.
Slaven sealed their unexpected victory with just over 5 minutes to go when a neat move saw Monjac’s incisive pass put Bogojevic clear to shoot across goal and into the corner. Despite almost constant pressure in 9 minutes of added on time, Slaven kept Dinamo at bay for their clean sheet and a deserved three points.
NSK Osijek 3-0 HNK Sibenik ( att : 550 )
Osijek had to work hard for their win over Sibenik in a game played in heavy rain. They had to wait until the 63rd minute to open the scoring though, top scorer Mierez getting ahead of his marker to head a cross from Milos just inside the near post.
Two late goals put a misleading gloss onto the scoreline, first Bohar shot home from close distance after controlling a ball played in from the left, and the Slovenian winger added his second from the penalty spot after a foul on Ndockyt was originally not given but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.
Saturday July 17, 2021
NK Lokomotiva Zagreb 2-2 HNK Hajduk Split ( att : 1,000 )
A disappointing start for Hajduk who were 3/4 odds on favourites to win this match. They will take encouragement though from the performance of ex-Brighton and Hove Albion forward Jan Mlakar, who scored twice on his debut. In the 20th minute he timed his run perfectly to latch onto Sahiti defence splitting pass, and coolly finished, then after Hajduk had fallen behind, ex-AEK Athens midfielder Marko Livaja played a low ball across the face of the goal from the left, and Mlakar slid in at the far post for a predatory close range finish. Mlakar also had an effort cleared off the line.
Lokomotiva equalised just before half-time, Cokaj’s inswinging free-kick was delicately headed into the opposite corner of the goal by Nikola Soldo, and they took the lead a minute into the second half when Marko Dabro cut back from the left and shot right footed from just inside the area to beat Hajduk keeper Kalinic at this near post. Frankly, the Aston Villa loanee should have done a lot better, not that the Lokomotiva ultras cared too much about that !
Hajduk should have snatched a late winner, but in added on time, substitute Ljubicic somehow headed over from 5 yards with the goal at his mercy.
HNK Rijeka 2-0 HNK Gorica ( att : 1,570 )
An opening day win for Rijeka which was much closer than the score line might suggest.
Rijeka opened the scoring in the 20th minute from the penalty spot. Gorica’s Ghanaian centre-back Moro had bundled over Robert Mudrazija, and Muric’s Jorginho style run-up left Gorica keeper Banic rooted to the spot as the penalty was rolled into the corner. Rijeka’s second goal came in the 55th through Lepinjica’s towering header from a corner.
Gorica looked dangerous throughout the game and were unlucky not to score at least once. Rijeka keeper Labrovic was forced to make decent saves from Sroler ( twice ) and Lovric, whilst Lovric also saw a Matthew Le Tissier style run and shot go inches wide.
Sunday July 18, 2021
NK Istra 1961 3-1 NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac ( att : 713 )
Three first half goals put Istra on the path to a straight-forward win over promoted Dragovoljac. Burkinabe Hassane Bande struck twice in the opening 17th minutes, firstly skipping past two weak tackles to shot home at the near post and then spectacularly volleying left footed from a tight angle. Sekulic headed against the bar for the visitors before Matic added a third for Istra in first half injury time with a clever header.
Istra missed a bag full of chances in the second half and could have recorded inflicted a hammering with better finishing, although Dragovoljac scored a consolation in the 93rd minute through a nice finish from substitute Veljaca.
Dragovoljac look to be in for a tough season.
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