Dinamo advances to quarterfinals of the Cup with a 'seven'

With a convincing performance and attractive play, Dinamo's footballers fiercely secured a place in the quarterfinals of the SuperSport Croatian Cup. In the round of 16, the Blues defeated Karlovac 7-0 as they did in their previous encounter. This match took place in September 2019 in the round of 16 of the Cup, also in Karlovac, but on the auxiliary field of the main stadium... Adding to the excitement of this match is an interesting "fun fact": on this day 55 years ago, on November 19, 1970, these same opponents faced each other in Karlovac in their last official match before Croatia's independence. Dinamo won that round of 16 Cup match 2-1.

Maksimir coach Mario Kovačević had to adjust his initial plans just before Wednesday's match. Due to an injury, Robert Mudražija was replaced in the starting lineup by Fran Topić during warm-up.

The Blues threatened more seriously in the 9th minute, Luka Stojković crossed from the left, and Topić sent the ball past the goal with a header at the "far post." Three minutes later, this duo created the first goal. Initially, Cardoso Varela after an effective one-two with Stojković earned a corner kick. It was taken by Miha Zajc, and Dion Drena Beljo headed from the top of the six-yard box. Goalkeeper Luigi Mišević managed to clear the ball, but in the follow-up action, Topić reached it, crossed from the right, and Stojković headed it into the net. Pokušao je Zajc ubrzo potom iz daljine, lopta okrznula domaćeg braniča, letjela u same rašlje, a Mišević ipak izbio paradom. Zajc je bio u izvoru novog pogotka plavih. Potkopao je loptu u kaznenom prostoru, Josip Budimir dohvatio rukom, a Beljo zabio iz jedanaesterca u 23. minuti. Desetak minuta kasnije Niko Galešić vješto je poslao okomitu loptu, stoper Dino Šimunić glavom produljio, na vrhu peterca osvanuo je Mateo Lisica i iz okreta zakucao u gol.

Goalkeeper Mišević in the next action stopped another Beljin attempt with his head, but the net still shook shortly after. In the 38th minute, Varela rushed down the left wing, crossed to the "far post", and Topić headed the ball over the goalkeeper for the fourth goal of the blues. Topić was alone in front of the goal after a brilliant pass from Stojković, but this time Mišević cushioned the ball.

At the start of the second half, Galešić played a vertical ball, Gonzalo Villar brought it down, and Sandro Kulenović launched a volley wide of the goal. It sparked again in the 63rd minute, Bruno Goda crossed from the left, Stojković headed it, the goalkeeper saved... In the follow-up action, Stojković set up Marko Soldo, who struck powerfully towards the goal, but Mišević saved it for a corner.

Varela managed to win the ball on the right side under pressure in the 67th minute, successfully crossing it in front of the goal where Kulenović "bowed" and easily headed it into the net.

It was a time when the "tactical rotation" was already in full swing on the field: Varela moved to the right side, Gabriel Vidović took over the left, while Topić dropped back to the role of right back.

Villar tried in the 74th minute after a pass from Varela, but once again the home goalkeeper blocked the shot. Three minutes later, a new goal appeared, Stojković scored with an impressive shot from 17 meters on the right side into the opposite "small net".

In the closing minutes of the match, Varela set up Kulenović who had his shot from close range saved by the goalkeeper. The story was concluded in the 88th minute when Villar sent a long vertical ball across the entire field, Varela skillfully controlled it in the penalty area, shook off the defenders, and scored.

Karlovac, November 19, 2025.

SuperSport Croatian Cup, Round of 16

Karlovac - Dinamo 0:7

Branko Čavlović Čavlek Stadium

Karlovac: Mišević - Ereiz (27. Mrkela), Buneta, Šimunić, Brekalo (46. Markeljević) - Braun (46. Stepinac); Budimir, Šop (46. Stipić), Šalić, Simčić - Žuljević (81. Gašpar)

Coach: Igor Pamić

Dinamo: Filipović – Lisica (54. Vidović), Dominguez (54. Theophile), Galešić, Goda – Mišić (46. Soldo); Topić, Zajc (46. Villar), Stojković, Varela – Beljo (46. Kulenović)

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Referee: Ante Terzić (Split)

Scorers: 0:1 Stojković (12.), 0:2 Beljo (23. - 11 m), 0:3 Lisica (35.), 0:4 Topić (38.), 0:5 Kulenović (67.), 0:6 Stojković (77.), 0:7 Varela (88.)