Great display and Čop's first goal for three points

Maksimir, Zagreb, 28.7.2012.

MAXtv Prva liga, 2. round

GNK Dinamo - HNK Cibalia 2:1 (1:0)

Spectators: 3.000

Referees: Zlatko Šimčić (Koprivnica), Borut Križarić (Čakovec), Goran Dević (Koprivnica), Danijel Trampus (Osijek)

Dinamo: Kelava - Vrsaljko, Vida, Šimunić, Pivarić (71. Ademi) - Pokrivač, Leko - Rukavina, Sammir, Alispahić (90. Tomečak) - Beqiraj (59. Čop)

Cibalia: Matković - Župarić, Lučić, Mitrović, Rugašević - Gegić (53. Mišić), Mazalović, Vitaić, Puljić - Koledić (83. Novak), Bartolović (69. Ćorić)

Yellow cards: Leko (66.) / Vitaić (75.)

Goals: 1:0 Leko-11m (32.), 2:0 Čop (62.) / 2:1 Bartolović (67.)

In the MAXtv Prva liga 2. round match against Cibalia Dinamo played a very good game and thanks to goals from Jerko Leko and Duje Čop got the deserved victory.

Coach Ante Čačić decided to "mix" his team in the match against Cibalia so there were a lot of players who got their season debut. Suspended Jerko Leko, injured Josip Šimunić and Nikola Pokrivač got their first season minutes and used them to the maximum because all three played a great game and were among the best players on the pitch.

Dinamo dominated the pitch from the beginning of the match, created chances and it was only a matter of time when will Modri get in front. Rukavina placed a nice shot after 8 minutes of play but it hit the post and Šimunić got his header and a left foot shoot blocked by Cibalia players. Eventually, Dinamo had to convert chances into goals and it happened in the 32nd minute when Leko and Vrsaljko came through the right side only for Lučić to brought Leko down for the penalty kick. Leko himself took the ball and nicely placed it to the upper corner for the lead.

In the second half things looked pretty much the same; the ball was constantly in the 30 metres radius from goalkeeper Matković and every now and then - Dinamo created a chance. First Pivarić and Sammir tried their long distance shoots before substitution Duje Čop scored in the 62nd minute. It was Vrsaljko who made a great run on the right side, rushed to the box and found Čop on the return ball for his first goal for Dinamo.

Usually, second goal means "game over" but not this time because Cibalia used their only chance and got one back. It was Bartolović who was forgotten by Dinamo's defense on the left side and with a bit of luck he managed to shot the ball behind Kelava. Minute after that Cibalia almost made a spectacular comeback but Vida and Šimunić stopped another attempt by the guest team. Soon after that Dinamo once again got control of the game so Rukavina, Čop and Sammir had their attempts but the final result was 2:1.

To conclude, Dinamo managed to rest some important first team players like Milan Badelj and Tonel and still played a very good game and got the fully deserved victory. Next game is on Wednesday when Dinamo plays in Moldova in the UEFA Champions league 3. qualification round against Sheriff Tiraspol.