Dinamo dominated, Rijeka defended for the draw

Stadiim Maksimir, Zagreb, 8.8.2015.

MAXtv Prva liga, 5. round

GNK Dinamo – HNK Rijeka 0:0

Attendance: 5203

Referees: Mario Zebec (Varaždin), Tomislav Petrović (Valpovo), Miro Grgić (Osijek), Dalibor Conjar (Osijek)

Dinamo: Ježina – Šimunović, Sigali, Taravel (80. Fernandes) – Pinto, Machado, Ademi, Pivarić – Rog (76. Ćorić) – Pjaca, Hodžić

Rijeka: Vargić - Ristovski, Samardžić, Lešković, Leovac - Maleš, Močinić - Tomasov (75. Jugović), Bezjak, Sharbini (86. Radošević) - Balaj (58. Roshi)

Yellow cards: Taravel (67.) / Maleš (3.), Balaj (15.), Sharbini (38.), Ristovski (40.), Leovac (77.)

Red card: Bezjak (82.)

Despite being a much better team the defending champions didn't find a way to score in a goalless derby against Rijeka. Modri dominated the game, created numerous chances but Rijeka managed to hold on a clean sheet.

Few days after qualifying to the Champions league play-off coach Mamić, as expected, made plenty of changes in the squad. Also, there were some changes in formation so Modri played in 3-4-1-2 formation with Rog as playmaker behind Pjaca and Hodžić as strikers. From the start of the game Dinamo were the dominant side and after just 5 minute Hodžić had a great chance but Rijeka's defense reacted very good and blocked his attempt.

Modri continued to push forward, Ademi's header was the next attempt and Hodžić also tried with his head few minutes later but Vargić was always at the right place. In the 20th minute Pjaca did all the work, made a nice run and placed a 20 metres shot but it wasn't good enough. Couple of minutes later Modri should have got a penalty kick when Lešković brought down Pjaca but the referee pointed to the – corner.

In the second half same story but with less real chances for Dinamo. Modri dominated, the ball was almost all the time on Rijeka's half of the pitch but there was no goals. The best chance of the second half was the one in the 54th minute when Pinto made a great cross but Rog's header went over the goal. Modri tried with substitutes so Ćorić and later Fernandes entered the game but nothing seemed to go right for Dinamo on Saturday. Even the fact that the champions had an extra man for the last 10 minutes wasn't enough; Rijeka's defense was "goal proof". In fact, Rijeka had a great chance to take all three points in additional time but Ježina made a great save.

This is third league draw so far this season for Modri and they play their next league game against league leaders, Split, next Saturday at 21:00.