Istria capitalized on Dinamo's mistakes, points stayed in Pula

With a solid defense game combined with occasional fast counterattacks and an early goal, Istra 1961's footballers defeated Dinamo and thus closed the gap with the Zagreb team in the league standings. The team from Pula celebrated a 2:1 victory in the 13th round match of the SuperSport HNL, in a duel where the home team skillfully took advantage of two careless reactions from the visiting defense and thus rewarded themselves with all three points. The Istrians are currently third in the standings...
Even a vigorous offensive play did not help the Blues, especially in the final stages, as illustrated by the fact that they took as many as 21 corner kicks. It was a close call that the opening match would still go in Dinamo's favor, in the 7th minute Luka Stojković took a powerful shot from about ten meters from the left side with a "drop-kick" towards the goal, but goalkeeper Franko Kolić managed to deflect it for a corner kick.

Three minutes later, Dinamo's net shook. The home team's captain Dario Marešić sent a long ball from deep in his own half on the left side. It seemed that the Maximir winger, in this case a full-back, Mateo Lisica, would manage to control it. Lisica was under pressure and lost his balance, too lightly heading the ball back to the goalkeeper. At that moment, the home team's forward Salim Fago Lawal emerged, broke through in front of Ivan Nevistić, and scored. Soon after, on the other side, Arbër Hoxha tried, he crossed from the left into the penalty area, but Miha Zajc was just a bit short at the "far post".
Istra "announced" their second goal in the 25th minute, experienced Josip Radošević won the ball on Dinamo's half, played it to the left, Emil Frederiksen shot from 14 meters low into the opposite corner, and Nevistić cleared it for a corner.
The home team increased their lead in the 32nd minute, Advan Kadušić crossed with his right foot from the left side, and Lawal headed it in completely unmarked from three meters at the "far post" into the goal.
At the end of the first half, Hoxha sharply turned from the left again, and Dion Drena Beljo , sideways facing the goal, grabbed the ball with his left foot in front of the empty goal, but it flew over the crossbar.

Beljo was the first to threaten in the continuation, he took a shot from seven meters, but over the goal.
Dinamo was close to scoring in the 64th minute when Zajc fiercely shot from 18 meters, slightly from the left, and shook the opposite post.
Shortly after, Stojković also threatened with a long-range shot, but the ball flew past the goal.
Dinamo got back into the game with a goal in the 81st minute, Stojković played a vertical pass to Mounsef Bakra who scored from 17 meters.

The Blues went all out for the equalizer, and on such a platform, the home team found a corridor in a counterattack, Stjepan Lončar played the ball into the penalty area where Charles Agada found himself alone in front of Nevistić who still managed to stop the ball. However, the question is whether Agada was offside in that situation. The assistant referee did not raise the flag.
In the referee's added time, Cardoso Varela crossed from the right, Bakrar tried to kick the ball in the air, but Kolić managed to "pluck" it out of the air.

Pula, November 9, 2025
SuperSport HNL, Round 13

Istra 1961 - Dinamo 2:1
Aldo Drosina Stadium
Istra 1961: Kolić - Nasraoui (65th Ayuma), Koski, Marešić, Kadušić (61st Heister) - Radošević, Maurić; Jay (61st Taraba), Lončar, Frederiksen (84th Ivanišević) - Lawal (84th Agada)
Coach: Oriol Riera
Dinamo: Nevistić - Lisica, Dominguez, McKenna, Perez Vinlof (84th Mudražija) - Bennacer (46th Ljubičić); Bakrar, Zajc (74th Vidović), Stojković, Hoxha (74th Kulenović) - Beljo (59th Varela)
Coach: Mario Kovačević
Referee: Duje Strukan (Split), Attendance: 5,241
Scorers: 1-0 Lawal (10th), 2-0 Lawal (32nd), 2-1 Bakrar (81st)