Tough but fully deserved victory

Maksimir, Zagreb, 3.3.2012.

MAXtv Prva liga, 20. round

GNK Dinamo - NK Osijek 1:0 (0:0)

Spectators: 3000

Referees: Domagoj Vučkov (Rijeka), Slaven Skender (Rijeka), Diego Žudetić (Pula), Marin Vidulin (Kanfanar)

Dinamo: Kelava - Vrsaljko, Bišćan, Vida, Ibanez (46. Sylvestr) - Leko, Alispahić - Rukavina (46. Tomečak), Kovačić, Pivarić - Krstanović (63. Beqiraj)

Osijek: Vargić - Vrgoč, Smoje, Gavrić, Aleksić (80. Lešković) - Kurtović, Šorša, Babić (71. Pušić) - Ibriks, Perošević - Maglica

Yellow cards: Bišćan (45.), Vida (71.) / Perošević (77.)

Goals: 1:0 Alispahić (62.)

Dinamo opened home 2012. season with a victory against Osijek. It took Dinamo a lot of effort to score against a very good Osijek team but one goal from Mehmed Alispahić was enough for three points. The reason that one goal brought the victory is Ivan Kelava who saved the penalty kick in the first half.

After almost three months Dinamo came back to Maksimir stadium. Coach Ante Čačić had his Maksimir debut against Osijek and decided to pick an offensive line up with only one defensive midfielder, Jerko Leko, and four offensive players - Alispahić, Kovačić, Pivarić, Rukavina - behind striker Krstanović.

On the other side was Osijek, team that certainly has the quality and they proved it in Maksimir. They decided to focus on defense and fast counter attacks and very soon in the game it showed as a good approach. In the 7th minute Ibriks made a nice run on the right side, captain Bišćan caught and tackled him from behind and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Midfielder Marko Babić placed the ball on the spot but Kelava went to the right side and made a nice save. Penalty kick save pushed Dinamo forward and Modri started to dominate but well organized Osijek defended very good and managed to keep Dinamo on 30 metres from Vargić. Dinamo tried to threaten with crosses from both sides but Smoje and other Osijek defenders were always at the right spot to clear the ball.

It was Alispahić who placed couple of nice shots from the edge of the box but he missed the target. On the other side, Osijek had another great chance when Maglica hit a shot but Kelava and post saved Dinamo. Coach Čačić made two changes in halftime so Tomečak and Sylvestr entered the pitch and it was the two of them who made the first chance of the second half. Dinamo pushed more and more and in the 61st minute Vida's header hit the post.

Minute after that - Dinamo took the lead. Pivarić made another run on the left side and placed a cross but this time it ended on Alispahić's head who's shot went to the net. After taking the lead Dinamo searched for another goal but it was Osijek who once again came very close to scoring when Perošević hit the post.

Dinamo made a few long shot attempts but neither Beqiraj nor Sylvestr didn't manage to hit the net; Tomečak also had a nice shot that ended in Vargić's arms.