Dinamo earns one goal advantage against Maribor

Champions league Play-off, first leg, Maksimir, 22.8.2012.

GNK Dinamo - NK Maribor 2:1 (1:1)

Spectators: 20.135

Referees: Cüneyt Çakir, Bahattin Duran, Tarik Ongun, Orkun AktaÅŸ, Hüseyin Göçek, Süleyman Abay (all Turkey)

Dinamo: Kelava - Vida, Tonel, Šimunić, Pivarić - Ademi, Badelj - Leko (46. Peko), Sammir (87. Vrsaljko), Rukavina (57. Beqiraj) - Čop

Maribor: Handanovič - Mejač, Rajčevič, Arghus, Potokar - Filipovič, Mertelj - Ibraimi (78. Mezga), Cvijanovič, Tavares - Berić (82. Komazec)

Yellow cards: Ademi (18.), Vida (28.), Leko (38.), Šimunić (80.) / Mertelj (31.) 

Goals: 1:0 Čop (10.), 2:1 Badelj (74.) / 1:1 Badelj-ag (39.)

Dinamo is one more step closer to the UEFA Champions league! Croatian champions secured a 2:1 home victory against Maribor and in six days will travel to Slovenia to defend the lead.

Dinamo opened the game against Maribor in style. Everything coach Ante Čačić wished and hoped before the game - it came to life on the pitch. Dinamo dominated the game, controlled the rhythm, created chances and got an early lead. It was Ademi who made a first threat and Čop had his first attempt go over the goal but after 10 minutes - Dinamo got in front.

Sammir tried his shot from long distance and the ball eventually came to Vida on the right side who made a great cross to the middle where Čop placed the ball in the net. Dinamo didn't stop after taking the lead, Modri created couple of nice chances, Leko shot over the goal, Čop twice beside the net and Arghus even hit the post of his own goal but Modri didn't extend the lead.

As the game went on, after half an hour, Maribor started to play better, got several set piece situations and eventually got the equaliser. It was in the 39th minute of the game when Cvijanovič made a cross and Badelj reacted poorly, deflected the ball and sent it behind Kelava. Before the break, Dinamo had another chance but once again it was Čop who placed a shot beside the net.

In the second half of the game, Dinamo pressed more and more, searched for the winner and eventually got the deserved lead. Maribor focused on defense, they were firmly placed on 30 metres from Handanovič so it was hard for Dinamo to find a weak spot. Badelj's excellent pass found the first one in the 64th minute when Pivarić was alone in the box but his shot wasn't accurate.

Ten minutes later, in the 74th minute of the game, Dinamo once again got the lead! Čop got the ball on the left side, made a nice cross to Badelj who was racing to the box and placed a brilliant left-footed shot to the corner of the net. Guest had several attempts made by Berić, some of them were pretty good ones, but the result stayed the same.

After 90 minutes in Zagreb, Dinamo had the lead and is a bit closer to the Champions league but Modri still have a lot of work to do in six days in Maribor.