With powerful, aggressive and inspired play, Osijek defeated Dinamo 4-2 in the 7th round of the SuperSport HNL, a match in which coach Mario Kovačević was forced to make changes to his lineup just before kickoff. Although he was already listed in the starting eleven, Maksimir striker Dion Drean Beljo did not feature after feeling unwell before the match started, and Smail Prevljak stepped into the starting lineup in his place.

Osijek entered the match furiously, putting strong pressure on the defense, and such an ambitious approach certainly paid off for them. Dinamo, meanwhile, saw their impressive run of 28 league matches without defeat come to an end.

Osijek took the lead as early as the 12th minute when Domagoj Bukvić on the right side, after a one-two with Šimun Mikolčić, crossed into the box. Armando Leon met it with a header and the ball bounced off the ground into the far corner. More attacks from the energetic home side followed, and in the 21st minute, former Dinamo youth captain Luka Vrbančić, one of the heroes of this match, played left to Marcel Heister who shot powerfully, but goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski saved the ball. Mikolčić also tried immediately after, but Dinamo's goalkeeper was well positioned.

Danger loomed in front of Dinamo's goal again seven minutes later when Osijek goalkeeper and captain Marko Malenica launched a long ball. On their own half, Moris Valančić and Sergi Dominguez were indecisive, which Leon exploited, shooting powerfully, but Kotarski prevented what seemed like a certain goal.

The net shook for the second time in the 35th minute, and the impressive Leon both started and finished the move. He launched a counter-attack, dribbled between two opponents through the middle of the pitch, played left to Admir Ljatifi who made a diagonal run into the penalty area and shot powerfully. Kotarski saved it, but the Mexican striker was quick to follow up and slam home the rebound.

Soon after, Dinamo came close to scoring when Miha Zajc shot from about ten meters on the left, but Luka Jelenić, also a former blue youth player, deflected it for a corner at the last moment.

Two goals came within about a hundred seconds, in the 60th and 61st minutes. First, after a Dinamo attack, a quick counter from the hosts followed. Leon launched a long ball forward with a volley from his own half, Vrbančić gave chase, had an open path to Kotarski, ran half the length of the pitch and in a one-on-one situation easily found the net.

The Blues responded in the very next attack. Matteo Perez Vinlöf sent a sharp low cross from the left to the far post, Mateo Lisica played it back to the penalty spot while falling, Jelenić cleared it with his heel, but Zajc was there to follow up and score from close range.

Osijek goalkeeper Malenica made three brilliant saves in just five minutes to keep his goal intact. In the 81st minute, Lukas Kačavenda chipped the ball from the right, Prevljak headed it, but the home goalkeeper made a save on the goal line. Soon after, he reacted well to two consecutive sharp crosses from Lisica, first interfering with Fran Topić's shot attempt at the last moment, then getting his fingertips to the ball just before Prevljak who was already facing an empty goal.

Dinamo brought some uncertainty to the result as they entered stoppage time. In a scramble in Osijek's penalty area, Heister shot the ball but hit a teammate. Both Malenica and Niko Galešić rushed for the loose ball. Dinamo's defender reached it first, but the Osijek goalkeeper caught him on the leg in the process. Prevljak took the penalty, shooting to his right into the bottom corner. Malenica managed to get a touch and deflect it onto the post, but the ball still crossed the line.

In the final seconds, during Dinamo's desperate search for an equalizer, Maksimir defender Perez Vinlöf clumsily received the ball in midfield. Bukvić intercepted it, while Kotarski was already near the center circle... However, he didn't communicate well with Perez Vinlöf, which Bukvić exploited again, running down the right flank, setting himself up for a shot and from more than 20 meters placing the ball into the empty net.

Osijek, 12 September 2024

SuperSport HNL, Round 7

Osijek – Dinamo 4-2

Opus Arena

Osijek: Malenica – Kruiver (77. Posavec), I. Ježić, Jelenić, Heister – Vrbančić; Bukvić, Mikolčić (63. Petrusenko), J. Ježić (63. Barić), Ljatifi (77. Bakti) – Leon (88. Farkaš)

Coach: Federico Bessone

Dinamo: Kotarski – Valančić (46. Galešić), Dominguez, McKenna, Perez Vinlöf – Mišić (77. Topić); Almena (46. Lisica), Stojković (46. Kačavenda), Zajc, Hoxha (57. Ivanušec) – Prevljak

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Referee: Ante Terzić (Podstrana)

Goalscorers: 1-0 Leon (12.), 2-0 Leon (35.), 3-0 Vrbančić (60.), 3-1 Zajc (61.), 3-2 Prevljak (90+2. - penalty), 4-2 Bukvić (90+6.)