Late own goal brought fully deserved victory

Stadium Maksimir, 27.4.2013.

MAXtv Prva liga, 29. round

GNK Dinamo – NK Slaven Belupo 1:0 (0:0)

Referees: Andrej Burilo (Osijek), Hrvoje Menđušić (Osijek), Dražen Pejić (Vukovar), Danijel Trampus (Osijek)

Spectators: 1500

Dinamo: Kelava - Vrsaljko, Jedvaj, Šimunić, Pivarić - Brozović - Tomečak (46. Halilović), Sammir, Husejinović (70. Pamić), Rukavina - Beqiraj (78. Krstanović)

Slaven Belupo: Rodić - Kokalović, Grgić, Bubnjić - Batarelo (81. Herent), Čanađija (90. Jelavić), Geng, Brlek, Maras - Rak, Šaban (67. Jugović)

Yellow cards: Beqiraj (78.) / Kokalović (53.), Bubnjić (90.)

Goal: 1:0 Bubnjić-og (87.)

In the last few minutes of the game Dinamo got the well deserved victory against Slaven Belupo. Defending champions were a much better team, created and missed numerous chances before got the winner thanks to an pretty unusual own goal scored by Igor Bubnjić three minutes from time.

Dinamo started the "birthday and league title celebration game" with couple of changes to the squad that won the game and secured the title a week ago in Vinkovci. Modri wanted to give their fans a win as a gift but from the start of the game it was obvious that it's not going to be easy.

Slaven defended fiercely for the entire game, very often with 10 players in their own 30 metres so it was almost impossible to find a way through. Despite that, Modri created some clear chances in the first half and the best one came after Vrsaljko's run and a cross in the 18th minute after which Beqiraj placed a 6-7 metres shot to the near corner but Rodić made a fantastic save.

Dinamo had numerous corner kicks which regularly ended with shots but they were always blocked. In fact, Dinamo players had all three shots blocked after the same corner kick and Brozović's nice move and a shot from 20 metres in the 37th minute ended beside the post.

From the start of the second half Dinamo pushed even harder, Slaven players were almost in their own box and chances came "on a minute basis". Alen Halilović entered the game at half time and was the creator several chances. Brilliant 16-year old player placed a shot over the bar in the 60th minute and a minute later made an excellent run before finding Pivarić in the box but his shot ended in the post.

Halilović, Sammir and Pamić all tried their shots but Rodić saved everything and when it finally seemed like Slaven will get away with a draw – Dinamo got the winner. Halilović switched sides for Pivarić who put in a cross which Bubnjić headed into his own net. A really strange own goal from the future Udinese defender who had a great game but then ruined everything in a matter of seconds.

Due to the lucky own goal Dinamo got the victory which they fully deserved and managed to continue their clean sheet streak.