Excellent Lisjak held the champions and earned Rijeka a draw

Stadium Kantrida, Rijeka, 21.4.2012.

MAXtv Prva liga, 27. round

HNK Rijeka - GNK Dinamo 1:1 (1:0)

Referees: Igor Križarić (Čakovec), Borut Križarić (Čakovec), Dražen Fejer (Bjelovar), Alen Gerek (Zabok)

Spectators: 5000

Rijeka: Lisjak - Datković, Drpić, Čagalj, Čaval - Živulić, Kreilach, Močinić (62. Stepčić), Salčinović - Čulina (90. Miloš), Bošnjak (71. Palibrk)

Dinamo: Kelava - Vrsaljko, Vida, Šimunić (57. Alispahić), Ibanez - Leko, Badelj - Kovačić (77. Pivarić), Sammir, Sylvestr - Beqiraj (57. Krstanović)

Yellow cards: Datković (2.), Močinić (41.), Salčinović (57.), Čaval (90.) / Šimunić (50.), Sylvestr (74.)

Goals: 1:0 Kreilach (27.) 11m / 1:1 Pivarić (84.)

Dinamo and Rijeka draw at Kantrida stadium. Dinamo dominated the entire game, was a better side the whole 90 minutes but excellent goalkeeper Robert Lisjak made several great saves and held Dinamo to a draw. Home team got in front after Damir Kreilach converted the penalty kick and Josip Pivarić got the equaliser five minutes before the end of the game.

Dinamo started and played the whole game like the champions should. Modri fully controlled the game, held the ball and created chances but Rijeka defended well and eventually earned a point; valuable point that could certainly make the difference in relegation battle. Home team played with nine players behind the ball and only former Dinamo player Ivan Bošnjak waited for counter attacks.

Dinamo threatened with long distance shot but Ibanez and Sammir attempts were saved by Lisjak. Modri had an excellent chance after 15 minutes when Sammir converted a cross, Vida jumped and headed the ball to the lower right corner but Lisjak made a very nice save. Rijeka defended and waited for counter attack to come close to Kelava and that happened after 27 minutes when Bošnjak fell in the penalty box and referee pointed to the spot; certainly a questionable decision by the referee. Never the less, Kreilach was concentrated and gave Rijeka the lead.

Second half - the same story. Dinamo dominated, created chances but Rijeka defenders and Lisjak saved (almost) everything. Coach Čačić saw that Rijeka had little offensive ambitions so half an hour before the end he decided to put attacking midfielder Mehmed Alispahić instead of defender Josip Šimunić; Ivan Krstanović replaced Fatos Beqiraj, too.

As the end was closer Dinamo pressed more and more and it was obvious that Rijeka had to concede. In the 73rd minute Lisjak saved Sammir's attempt and five minutes later he and crossbar stopped an excellent Sylvestr's volley. After Badelj's shot ended beside the net it seemed like Rijeka will beat the odds and win but they simply couldn't save everything.

In the 84th minute of the game Badelj's excellent pass found Pivarić who calmly placed the ball in the net. This wasn't the end because Dinamo wanted to win but the home team managed to keep a point.