Cup quarterfinal: Spring season opened with a draw

Stadium Aldo Drosina, Pula, 18.2.2012.

Cup quarterfinal, first leg

GNK Dinamo - NK Istra 1961 1:1 (1:0)

Referees: Ante Vučemilović (Osijek), Dražen Pejić (Vukovar), Hrvoje Menđušić (Vinkovci)

Spectators: 3500

Dinamo: Kelava - Vrsaljko, Vida, Šimunić, Ibanez - Calello (77. Alispahić), Badelj - Tomečak (67. Beqiraj), Kovačić, Sylvestr - Krstanović (56. Leko)

Istra 1961: Prskalo - Marić, Sušić, Stranatić, Milić - Anđelković, Jerković (46. Bačelić-Grgić), Batarelo - Belle (78. Havojić), Križman, Roce (60. Ottochian) 

Yellow cards: Šimunić (82.) / Jerković (41.)

Goals: 1:0 Badelj (45.) / 1:1 Bačelić - Grgić (53.)

Opening game of the 2012. and the Cup quarterfinal game in Pula ended with a draw. Dinamo, as a host, played much better in the first 45 minutes and after Badelj's goal got the deserved lead but Istra 1961 didn't gave up and their effort was awarded when Bačelić-Grgić scored an equaliser.

After more than a month of training - competitive matches finally began. Coach Ante Čačić decided for 4-2-3-1 formation and the 11 players that played most of the pre-season                games. Defending four were Vrsaljko, Vida, Šimunić and Ibanez, in the midfield Calello and Badelj with Tomečak, Kovačić and Sylvestr in front of them and Krstanović in attack.

Dinamo opened the game very well; in fact, both teams played open football and were looking to score so around 3500 fans were watching an interesting game. Sylvestr had first chance of the game after just two minutes but Slovak winger didn't react well. On the other side, Cameroonian right winger Henri Belle was great and, on many ocassions, to fast for Dinamo's defensive line. He has many runs on the right side which he ended with a cross or a shot. Actually, his run in the 17th minute ended with the ball hitting the post.

Modri dominated the game in the first half and had several chances but the best one was in the 29th minute. Kovačić's brilliant pass found Tomečak who run toward Prskalo and managed to put the ball past the goalkeeper but also beside the goal. Istra answered couple of minutes later when Milić's fierce shot was saved by Kelava.

Captain Badelj was great in the first half and his excellent play eventually brought the lead. He made couple of shots that ended all over the net but the one in additional time of the first half ended where it should have. Ibanez won the ball in defense, made a nice run to find Sylvestr on the left side who gave the ball to Badelj and his left-footed shot from 16 metres went to the net; a deserved lead and Badelj certainly deserved to get it.

Istra entered the second half very good and it was Sušić who hit the post after a great shot in the 50th minute and minute after that - it was 1:1. Coach Igor Pamić decided to make one half time substitution and it was the right one. Minute after Sušić's shot, Dinamo's defense forgot about Stipe Bačelić - Grgić in the box, he had a lot of time and Kelava was helpless.

It looked like an early goal would lift up the pace of the game but that didn't happen; on the contrary. Rhythm of the game was much slower in the second half and there was a small number of chances. Coach Čačić tried to wake up the team with subs Leko, Beqiraj and Alispahić but it didn't help. Actually, the only chance spectators saw in the second half was the one from Beqiraj in the 82nd minute but his shot wasn't accurate.

The game ended with a draw and since Dinamo and Istra decided to change home and away games - Istra is in the lead. At least for two weeks and their "home" game in Maksimir.