Birthday Beqiraj scores double in Zagreb derby

Stadium at Kranjčevićeva, 5.5.2012.

MAXtv Prva liga, 29. round

NK Zagreb - GNK Dinamo 0:3 (0:1)

Referees: Marko Matoc (Zaprešić), Tomislav Petrović (Valpovo), Hrvoje Barišić (Osijek), Bruno Marić (Daruvar)

Spectators: 2500

Zagreb: Vidaković - Pelaić, Pavlović, Oršulić, Bevab - Abdurahimi (67. Jurendić), Maleš (59. Zadro), Trebotić, Mitrović, Štrok - Medić (67. Frljužec)

Dinamo: Kelava - Vida, Tonel, Šimunić, Pivarić - Calello, Badelj (76. Pokrivač) - Tomečak (82. Leko), Alispahić, Ibanez - Beqiraj

Yellow cards: Mitrović (41.)

Goals: 0:1 Beqiraj-11m (18.), 0:2 Beqiraj (54.), 0:3 Calello (90.)

Dinamo played an excellent game against Zagreb and secured a convincing 3:0 victory. Birthday guy Fatos Beqiraj scored the first two when Ivan Kelava saved a penalty kick shot in the 72nd minute. In additional time Adrian Calello scored his first goal of the season to make it final 3:0.

Dinamo started the game in a convincing matter; just like the champions should play. It's impossible to count all the times Pivarić and Ibanez passed through the left side and made crosses to the box. That's the way Alispahić got his two chances and Badelj an excellent one after 15 minutes but Vidaković saved everything; at least so far.

It was obvious that Zagreb couldn't hold out much longer and Dinamo got the lead after 18 minutes. Maleš made a mistake and lost the ball, Ibanez found Beqiraj who was brought down by Oršulić and it was a clear penalty. Best goalscorer of the league took the penalty and scored his fourteenth league goal; best possible 24th birthday present.

Modri were a much better side and dominated the game but it was Zagreb who had an excellent chance after half an hour of play. Out of nowhere Adburahimi got lucky and came in front of Kelava but our goalkeeper made a great save and pushed his shot to the corner.

In the second half Dinamo continued to dominate and create chance so soon came the second goal. It was a brilliant pass from Badelj which found racing Ibanez on the left side, he crossed to the middle where Beqiraj had the easy job of placing the ball in the net. Dinamo had couple of more chances that could really seal the game but they didn't convert so Zagreb got another way to come back to the game.

Substitute Jurendić was in the box, Tonel made a bad tackle and the referee once again pointed to the spot. Offensive midfielder and former Dinamo player Hrvoje Štrok placed the ball on the spot, aimed the lower right corner but Kelava made an excellent save; it was in the 72nd minute. Zagreb had one more chance but when Pavlović's header couple of minutes later ended in the post it was obvious that Dinamo will be the winner. In fact, in the final minutes of the game Modri played a nice counter attack which was ended by Calello who made it final 3:0.

With a 3:0 victory in the Zagreb derby Dinamo now waits for the Cup final second leg against Osijek which is due on Wednesday, 9.5. See you at Maksimir!