Pjaca scores two for goodbye and qualification

Second leg 2. qualification round, 20.7.2016.

Maksimir, Zagreb

First leg: Vardar – Dinamo 1:2

GNK Dinamo – FK Vardar 3:2 (0:1)

Referees: Sergej Ivanov, Vyacheslav Semenov, Dmitri Mosyakin, Aleksei Nikolaev (all Russia)

Attendance: 10241

Dinamo: Ježina – Stojanović, Sigali, Schildenfeld, Matel – Machado, Antolić – Soudani, Rog (81. Fernandes), Pjaca (86. Pivarić) – Hodžić (68. Benković)

Vardar: Aleksovski – Hambartsumyan, Grnčarov, Novak, Glišić – Spirovski, Velkoski (71. Petkovski) – Asani (66. Nikolov), Felipe, Kojašević – Balotelli (75. Obregon)

Yellow cards: Stojanović (20.), Soudani (38.), Antolić (51.) / Grnčarov (19.), Hambartsumyan (32.), Spirovski (70.)

Goals: 1:1 Pjaca-11m (56.), 2:2 Pjaca-11m (70.), 3:2 Machado (78.) / 0:1 Velkoski (38.), 1:2 Schildenfeld-ag (63.)

In a great atmosphere in front of more than 10 thousand fans Dinamo won 3:2 against Vardar and with a 5:3 win on aggregate qualified for the 3. qualification round of the Champions league! Star of the evening and absolute hero was Marko Pjaca who scored two goals, assisted for the third and got standing ovation from the fans on his farewell game on Maksimir!

In the match preview coach Kranjčar and the players were saying that despite 2:1 win in Macedonia Vardar is a real threat and it certainly proved to be true. Modri had domination in the first half but despite Pjaca being unstoppable on the left flank Russian referee remained silent when he was obviously brought down from behind in the box in the 19^th minute. Vardar showed their intentions to make a comeback when Velkoski placed a 28 metres long shot that ended in the net.

Dinamo came back in the 56^th minute when Pjaca scored from a penalty spot after Rog was brought down but Vardar was back in front in the 63^rd minute when Schildenfeld scored an own goal. At that moment it was 3:3, all equal and we were going towards extra time but Modri had other plans. Rog made a cross from the corner and it hit someone in the hand so Pjaca scored his second penalty kick. Few minutes later, in the 78^th minute Pjaca found Machado who placed a shot that was deflected and ended in the net. 3:2 for game over on Maksimir.

There was only one thing left – standing ovation for Pjaca. In the 86^th minute the stadium "exploded", more than 10 thousand fans gave an extraordinary player standing ovation on his last game for his favorite club. A farewell Marko certainly deserved.

Dinamo qualified for the 3. qualification round and their next opponent is Dinamo Tbilisi.