Great atmosphere for the draw at the start of the season

Stadium Maksimir, 12.7.2015.

MAXtv Prva liga, 1. round

GNK Dinamo – HNK Hajduk 1:1 (1:1)

Referees: Bruno Marić (Daruvar), Tomislav Petrović (Valpovo), Miro Grgić (Osijek), Borut Križarić (Čakovec), 1. DPS: Igor Križarić (Čakovec), 2. DPS: Mario Zebec (Varaždin)

Attendance: 23631

Dinamo: Eduardo – Pinto, Šimunović, Taravel, Pivarić – Ademi, Machado – Soudani, Ćorić (62. Rog), Pjaca (82. Hodžić) – Henriquez (75. Cekici)

Hajduk: Kalinić - Tudor, Milović, Nižić, Pejić - Balić (52. Maloku), Caktaš - Jefferson, Vlašić, Roguljić (70. Maglica) - Franck

Yellow cards: Taravel (14.), Rog (88.), Pinto (89.)  / Franck (31.), Caktaš (56.)

Goals: 1:1 Soudani (37.) / 0:1 Caktaš (8.)

Dinamo started new season with a 1:1 derby draw against Hajduk! In front of almost 24 thousand spectators Hajduk took an early lead but Dinamo bounced back via Soudani before half time and despite dominance and several nice chances 1:1 was the result after 90 minutes too.

Modri entered the new season with assistant coach Damir Krznar leading the team in standard 4-2-3-1 formation with a surprisingly Angelo Henriquez in the starting line-up. The defending champions opened the game with a plan to dominate and had couple of attempts but the first one from Hajduk gave them the lead.

In the 8th minute of the game Franck did most of the job on the left side and made a pass to Caktaš who scores from 10 metres; shocking start of the game for Dinamo. It took Modri couple of minutes to get back in to the game and to connect their passes but when that happened they've regained their dominance. Modri were pressing forward and eventually managed to get back in the game before half time.

After 37 minutes Marko Pjaca made one of many runs of the left side and made an ideal pass to Soudani who placed the ball in the net for the well deserved equaliser. Modri almost got the complete comeback when Ćorić tried his shot but his attempt went over the post. In the second half Dinamo continued to dominate, Marko Rog made his debut for Dinamo but Hajduk managed to defend.

Modri had several nice chances but they simple lacked calmness in finishing. Either a wrong pass, not a good enough shot or someone from Hajduk players stopped Dinamo from opening the season with a win.

Despite opening the league with "just a point" this was a good derby, Modri played a good game and the next game is in a couple of days, on Wednesday, when Dinamo opens their Champions league campaign against Fola Esch.