Hoxha confirmed Dinamo's 100th victory against Rijeka in history with a masterful goal

With a masterful goal in the 84th minute, with an impressive shot with his right foot almost near the sideline, Arbër Hoxha led Dinamo to victory in the match against Rijeka at Maksimir. The Blues defeated the Whites 2-1 in the 12th round of the SuperSport HNL and thus signed their "round" 100th victory in official matches against Rijeka throughout history. In a total of 189 official matches in the last 80 years, the Blues have celebrated victory 100 times, 43 matches ended in a draw, while Rijeka won 46 times.

After a very good performance in the first half, after the domination and lead of the blues, the people of Rijeka entered the second half more vigorously, forcefully and energetically, and after several chances, managed to equalize.

It was a pivotal moment, also one of the most beautiful moves of the season, signed by the sprinting Hoxha scoring for victory. “Breaking” the left side defender, between the sideline and the corner of the penalty area, with a skillful twist of his right foot, he sharply turned towards the goal, and the ball in an elusive arc “slid” under the crossbar and into the opposite “small net”. It was a sequence almost “copied” from the 1998 World Cup when Robert Prosinečki shook the net of Jamaica. The stands of Maksimir Stadium erupted, Dinamo was close to victory... The Blues held onto the lead until the end of the match despite a great chance for the visitors, and referee Igor Pajač blew the final whistle just as Sandro Kulenović was starting a counterattack where he had an open corridor towards the goalkeeper...

Dinamo set the stage for the opening goal in the first half. Ismaël Bennacer won the ball on his own half in the 19th minute, sent it to Dejan Ljubičić, who passed it to the right to Mounsef Bakraru, but goalkeeper Martin Zlomislić intervened.

Ten minutes later, the Blues found their way to the net, it was a continuous Dinamo attack, Bennacer launched an impressive long ball from the left, Bakrar controlled it with his right foot and then scored with his left into the opposite corner.

Rijeka played openly in the continuation, Justas Lasickas took a shot from 20 meters in the 57th minute, and Ivan Nevistić managed to cushion the ball. It was a kind of announcement of the equalizer that appeared in the next attack. Ante Oreč crossed from the right, Merveil Ndockyt ran in at the top of the six-yard box and equalized.

The people of Rijeka were given a new boost by this goal, Toni Fruk immediately then tried a powerful shot from 17 meters, but the ball passed just above the crossbar.

Dinamo threatened in the 72nd minute when Hoxha after a one-two with Dejan Ljubičić on the left side broke through alone in front of the Rijeka goalkeeper who still managed to stop the ball.

After a clash in the 78th minute in a somewhat heated atmosphere, both teams went in search of a new goal. For example, Amer Gojak in the 83rd minute led Rijeka's attack down the right side, reached the penalty area, sharply crossed to the six-yard box where Daniel Adu-Adjei was just a bit short...

But in the next attack on the other side, a Hoxhina miniature for a new Dinamo goal appeared. Rijeka, however, was close to a new equalizer in the 90th minute, Fruk crossed into the penalty area, Samuele Vignato touched the ball in a fall, and Nevistić deflected it with a brilliant reaction and preserved the victory for the Blues.

Zagreb, November 1, 2025.

SuperSport HNL, Round 12

Dinamo - Rijeka 2:1

Maksimir Stadium

Dinamo: Nevistić - Lisica, Dominguez (86th Galešić), McKenna, Goda (76th Perez Vinlöf) - Mišić; Bakrar, Ljubičić (76th Villar), Bennacer (90+3 Soldo), Hoxha - Beljo (76th Kulenović)

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Rijeka: Zlomislić – Majstorović, Husić, Devetak – Oreč (86. Menalo), Ndockyt (59. Gojak), Petrovič, Lasickas (86. Bogojević); Fruk, Thaqi (46. Vignato) – Čop (59. Adju-Adei)

Coach: Victor Sanchez

Referee: Igor Pajač (Sveti Ivan Zelina)

Scorers: 1:0 Bakrar (29.), 1:1 Ndockyt (58.), 2:1 Hoxha (84.)