Magical Sammir leads Dinamo in glorious display

UEFA Champions league, play-off round, first leg

Maksimir, Zagreb, 17.8.2011.

Spectators: 31.000

Referees: Pedro Proença, Tiago Trigo, Ricardo Santon, Hugo Miguel, João Capela, João Ferreira (all Portugal)

Dinamo: Kelava - Vrsaljko, Tonel, Vida, Ibanez - Calello (85. Kovačić), Leko, Badelj, Sammir (90. Šitum) - Rukavina, Krstanović (64. Beqiraj) 

Malmo: Melicharek - Halsti, Jansson, Andersson, Hamad - Mehmeti (75. Vinzents), Mutavadžić (66. Aubynn), Pekalski, Durmaz - Figueiredo (66. Rexhepi), Larsson

Yellow cards: Melicharek (59.), Durmaz (76.)

Goals: 1:0 Sammir (4.), 2:1 Rukavina (56.), 3:1 Sammir, 11m (60.), 4:1 Beqiraj (84.) / 1:1 Mehmeti (17.)

Fantastic night in Maksimir! Dinamo played a great first leg of the UEFA Champions league play-off round and with a 4:1 victory against Malmö FF made a huge step towards the group stage of the competition.

In front of more than 33.000 fans in Maksimir Dinamo secured a great 4:1 victory against the Swedish champions. A fantastic display from Sammir who scored twice and goals from Rukavina and Beqiraj put Dinamo in front before the second leg in Sweden.

From the kick-off of the match Dinamo was the team that completely dominated the pitch, had control of the game and made chance after chance. The game started like Dinamo fans could only dream - with Dinamo taking the lead. If was Krstanović who forced the mistake, Leko's cross wasn't well cleared and it came to Sammir who placed it in the back of the net; it was in the 4th minute.

The lead gave Dinamo players even more self confidence and Modri had possession and a couple of chances but in the 17th minute - Malmö scored. The guest based their play on counter attacks and one of them was well played, Mehmeti was unstoppable on the right side and Kelava had no chance; 1:1. Even though coach Krunoslav Jurčić didn't want his team to concede a goal in Maksimir, Malmö scoring didn't change anything on the pitch.

It took Dinamo a couple of minutes to get back on the right track and than - 20 minutes of magical display. Dinamo didn't score before halftime but Modri made at least 5 clear chances and only luck and lack of concentration saved Malmö from conceiving another goal. Luckily, not for long. Anyway, Sammir's shot went over the goal in the 25th minute, Rukavina placed one at the hands of Melicharek and Jansson saved Malmö in front of Krstanović. Rukavina tried once again in the 38th minute and Badelj's beautiful shot ended in the post.  Malmö made it till halftime but it was obvious that Dinamo is a better team and the only question was - when will they score? 16 Dinamo's shot to Malmö's one were a clear sign that Dinamo in playing much better football.

It finally happened in the 56th minute when Ibanez's cross found Rukavina who was at the near post and managed to place the ball behind Melicharek. Couple of minutes later - 3:1. Sammir made a great run which was finally ended by Malmö's goalkeeper and it was a clear penalty which Sammir himself converted to 3:1.

Of course, Dinamo than slowed down the pace of the game but still managed to score one more goal to make the win even more convincing. Sammir was once again the main man, got the ball to Beqiraj who placed a nice shot from the edge of the area to make it 4:1 in the 86th minute.

Needless to say, atmosphere at the stadium was great. The job is not done and second leg in scheduled on Tuesday but Modri will have a much easier task after a win in Maksimir.