Dinamo convincingly defeated tough Vukovar team, Varela debuted

With attractive actions, in a great atmosphere spiced up with appropriate loud celebratory singing from the stands, Dinamo also recorded their second victory at the start of the new league season. In the 2nd round match of the SuperSport HNL, the Blues defeated the newcomer to the first league, HNK Vukovar 1991, with a score of 3:0 in a duel where the guests at times showed a strong defense and managed to threaten the home goal. We will also remember the match because 16-year-old Cardoso Varela made his official debut.

Fans marked the 30th anniversary of the Military-Police Operation Storm with a special choreography accompanied by emotional verses of the song "Moja Domovina", which synchronized from both the north and west stands.

The people of Vukovar were threatened as early as the 7th minute when Robin Gonzalez took a powerful left-footed shot from about ten meters, and goalkeeper Ivan Nevistić deflected the ball. Just four minutes later, Dion Drena Beljo initiated a counterattack, Dejan Ljubičić passed to the right for Mateo Lisica who shot wide of the opposite post. Ljubičić slipped the ball into the penalty area for Gabriel Vidović in the 18th minute, he aimed from a half-turn at the top of the six-yard box, and goalkeeper Marino Bulat managed to intervene in time.

Ten minutes later, the guests were close to taking the lead. Experienced Marin Pilj curled a free-kick from the right side, and Keyendrah Simmonds, a former member of the Manchester City youth team, headed the ball - hitting the crossbar.

Dinamo took the lead at the end of the first half. Captain Josip Mišić crossed from a corner, Scott McKenna headed the ball in a crowded box towards the "far post," where Vidović skillfully controlled it with his left foot and then aimed with his right into the opposite "near post."

Vukovar tried to surprise in the 60th minute when Mario Tadić fiercely shot from a free kick about 30 meters out towards the bottom corner, but Nevistić managed to deflect the ball.

Five minutes later, the blues scored and increased their lead. Moris Valinčić delicately sent the ball to the right side for Lisica, who skillfully received it and then crossed it to the top of the six-yard box where Beljo came running and slammed it in for 2-0.

Luka Stojković crossed in the 73rd minute, and Sergi Dominguez, jumping with his back to the goal, headed the ball into the opposite corner. In the next play, Bruno Goda won the ball on the left side, played it to Stojković who cleverly extended it to the right for Lisica, he struck powerfully, but Bulat managed to deflect it for a corner.

The match was "rounded off" by the third goal in the 77th minute, and that came from a lightning-fast and simple action. Arbër Hoxha broke through the defense on the left side and entered the penalty area, then crossed in front of the goal where Sandro Kulenović was at the top of the six-yard box and simply stuck out his leg for 3-0.

Shortly after, Kulenović "returned the favor" to Hoxha, skillfully playing the ball behind the opponent's defense, but once again goalkeeper Bulat intervened. In the continuation of the action, Kulenović also earned applause from the audience for his attempt at "bicycle kicks."

Guests were left with ten men in the 88th minute after the experienced Tadić received a red card. In the middle of the field, he made a rough tackle from behind on Hoxha, grabbing him by the shin. The referee initially showed him a yellow card, but after reviewing the VAR, he changed it to red.

Zagreb, August 8, 2025

SuperSport HNL, Round 2

Dinamo - Vukovar 1991 3:0

Maksimir Stadium

Dinamo: Nevistić - Valinčić, Dominguez, McKenna, Perez Vinlöf (69. Goda) - Mišić; Lisica (81. Varela), Ljubičić, Villar (63. Stojković), Vidović (69. Hoxha) - Beljo (69. Kulenović)

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Vukovar 1991: Bulat – Tabinas, Tadić, Henning, Pavičić – Biljan (71. Shabani), Pilj (58. Čaić); Simmonds (46. Camacho), Gonzalez, Banovec (89. Šuver) – Klanac (58. Knöll)

Coach: Gordon Schildenfeld

Referee: Patrik Pavlešić (Duga Resa), Attendance: 12,721

Red card: Tadić (88th minute - foul)

Scorers: 1:0 Vidović (45th minute), 2:0 Beljo (65th minute), 3:0 Kulenović (77th minute)