August 27, 28 & 29, 2021
A potentially pivotal week in the Croatian 1.HNL with matches between last season’s top 4 as Sunday’s double header, no doubt a Super Sunday in the eyes of the Croatian equivalent of Sky Sports !
Friday August 27, 2021
NK Slaven Belupo 0-1 NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac ( att : 361 )
Mioc ( 86 )
Saturday August 28, 2021
NK Lokomotiva Zagreb 0-1 HNK Gorica ( att : 384 )
Lovric ( 74 )
HNK Sibenik 3-1 NK Istra 1961 ( att : 501 )
Delic ( 17 ), Jakolis ( 22 & 32 ); Beljo ( 74 )
Sunday August 29, 2021
NSK Osijek 0-2 HNK Dinamo Zagreb ( att : 3,175 )
Jakic ( 32 ), Loncar ( 64 og )
HNK Hajduk Split 1-2 HNK Rijeka ( att : 15,967 )
Elez ( 54 ); Tomecak ( 21 ), Drmic ( 43 )
Dragovoljac created a major surprise by registering their first win and points of the season by winning in Koprivnica, although the highlight of the first half was probably a sprinkler coming on after 20 minutes and halting the game !
A game low on quality turned in the 76th minute when Slaven midfielder Glavic was shown a second yellow card, and Dragovoljac tried to press home their advantage, The winning goal came unexpectedly four minutes from time, when Benedikt Mioc picked up a loose ball and sent an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
The game ended in farce when Dragovoljac striker Peric was allowed to continue to round the keeper when clearly yards offside, but VAR quite rightly chalked off the goal.
After starting the season by winning at Dinamo and drawing at Osijek, Slaven are starting to struggle.
Kristijan Lovric was the match-winner for Gorica at Lokomotiva, but rather than a trademark free-kick or a spectacular finish after leaving a trail of defenders in his wake, unusually this time he scored from a close range header with just over 15 minutes to play. Otherwise, it was game best forgotten as Lokomotiva slipped to a second consecutive defeat after a promising start to the season and Gorica registered their 4th win from 7 games.
Sibenik comfortably came out on top in a match between two sides expected to be in the bottom half in the table. Istra started better though and could have been two up in the first 5 minutes. However, Sibenik soon took control and established a 3-0 lead after just over half an hour. After a probing run from Marin Jakolis, Delic opened the scoring in the 17th minute, turning to prod home in the 6 yard box. Jakolis, formerly of Moeskroen, Roeselare and Virton added the next two, with a curling shot from the edge of the area and a side footed finish from 10 yards after being left free.
The second half was more even, with Sederov having two good chances for Istra, and Sibenik hit the post. Beljo did grab a consolation for the Pula based visitors, sliding in for a close range finish after an inviting low cross from Bande.
Dinamo Zagreb were worthy winners at Osijek. In a dominant first half display, Dinamo could have been several goals ahead. Orsic was denied twice in a matter of seconds, Jasic struck a post, before Australian Deni Juric delivered a left footed cross to leave Jasic with a simple finish at the back post.
Osijek were given an opportunity to draw level against the run of play in the 54th minute when VAR awarded a penalty for a hand in the face. Unfortunately for Osijek, Pilj slipped when about to strike the ball but it was still a decent save by Livakovic. The match was settled by a fortuitous goal in the 64th minute. Osijek captain Skoric looked to have headed a Dinamo free-kick out for a corner but Franjic just managed to get to the ball before it went out of play and turned the ball back towards the goal. The ball appeared to make contact with both defender Loncar and keeper Ivulic before going into the net, but the own goal was awarded to Loncar.
There was another away win in Sunday’s other match, with Rijeka’s triumph at Hajduk centred around their outstanding first half display. Hajduk seemingly had little answer to Rijeka’s quick counter attacks and runs through the middle of the park, in which Abass and Ampem in particular were outstanding.
Their opening goal came after Ampem had beaten the full back for pace and crossed for Drmic to shoot. His effort was blocked by Hajduk keeper Posavec but Tomeacak fired home the rebound. Abass then hit the post after a solo run from the half-way line. It was then Ampem’s turn to make a surging run starting from inside his own half before playing in Drmic for the on loan Norwich City Swiss International to cut back inside his marker and score with an effort into the opposite corner.
Hajduk improved in the second half, and pulled a goal back in the 54th minute when Elez escaped from two defenders to head in a corner at the near post. The home side nearly grabbed an equaliser with just over 10 minutes to play when a low bouncing corner made its way across the face of the Rijeka goal and Simic slid in unopposed at the far post. However, he couldn’t quite get enough contact on the ball and it went inches wide of the post.
A pattern has started to emerge from in the league table at this stage. The expected top 4 all have 13 points, but Dinamo and Rijeka have played a game less than Osijek and Hajduk. Below them Gorica and Lokomotiva are competing for fifth, whilst below them Sibernik, Istra, Slaven and Dragovoljac look likely to be the bottom four.
European Update
The impressive performances by Dinamo and Rijeka came after disappointments in Europa in mid-week. Dinamo exited the Champions League after being held to a goalless draw by Sheriff Tiraspol to go out 0-3 on aggregate to the Transniestrian champions of the Moldova league. Despite having the majority of the possession they really forced the Sheriff keeper into making other than routine saves. Orsic did get the ball into the back of the net with 15 minutes to play with an athletic finish, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Dinamo now drop down to the Europa League group stages where they have been drawn with West Ham United, Rapid Vienna and Genk, and are the last remaining Croatian side in European competition.
In the Europa Conference, Osijek failed to take advantage of their draw in Greece with PAOK Salonika, going down 0-2 at home to the Greek side, who also hit the woodwork three time.
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