Taking the lead in the first half, dominating and controlling the game for large periods of the match, and creating numerous chances still didn't open the path to victory for the blues. The English side eventually punished the wasted opportunities, took control of the match and secured the win. Dinamo b players opened the new season in the Premier League International Cup this Tuesday in Stevenage, a London suburb, in this prestigious European competition for youth teams, but were defeated 3-1 by Tottenham Hotspur at the start.

The blues took a 1-0 lead, and in just the first six minutes of the second half created five more big chances which they failed to convert.

Tottenham threatened in the 18th minute when Tyrese Hall intercepted the ball in Dinamo's half and shot from 14 metres, but Maksimir goalkeeper Tai Žnuderl saved the ball. The opening goal came in the 25th minute when Tomas Baković delivered a corner kick and Josip Brundić made a run to the near post and headed the ball into the top corner.

At the start of the second half, a siege of Tottenham's goal followed. Noa Mikić crossed into the middle in the first attack where Mislav Ćutuk and Jona Benkotić combined brilliantly, but the ball ended up blocked. In the next minute, Baković delivered a free kick from the right side, and Petar Šimun Žaja shot just wide of the goal while falling from the edge of the penalty area.

Again Baković was at the centre of action in the 49th minute, intercepting an opponent's attack in midfield. The ball was received by Fuzy Taylor and passed to the left where Noah Nsoki was making a run. The young Dinamo winger shot sharply, but the goalkeeper prevented the goal at the last moment.

In the same minute, it sparked twice in front of the home goal. First Mikić delivered a sharp cross from the right, and the ball flew through the penalty area, immediately followed by another cross, this time from Nsoki on the left, with Brundić jumping with his foot in front of the goal line but coming up just short.

An interesting moment occurred in the 69th minute when Luca Williams-Barnett tried to surprise the visitors with a lob from his own half, with the ball passing just wide of the post. Three minutes later, the Zagreb players again created chaos in front of the opponent's goal. It was an excellent move with five passes, Mikić crossed in front of goal, the ball deflected off a block to Brundić who found the net. However, the referee judged that in the scramble in the penalty area there was an offside.

Immediately a big chance followed on the other side, captain James Rowswell crossed from the right, the ball was received on the opposite side in front of goal by Elisha Sowunmi who sent it wide of the far post.

Tottenham equalised in the 79th minute when Rowswell went down the right flank, played into the middle, Sowunmi dribbled to the left and crossed into the penalty area where Ellis Lehane made a run and slotted home from close range for the lead.

The hosts confirmed victory in the 85th minute when Tyrese Hall shot from the middle, Žnuderl saved the ball, Williams-Barnett ran in from the left, Dinamo's goalkeeper managed to get a touch on it again, but it still ended up in the net.

Dinamo b will play their next match in this competition at the beginning of December, when Manchester City will visit.

Stevenage, 15 September 2026.

Premier League International Cup, Group B, Round 1

Tottenham Hotspur U-21 – Dinamo b 3-1

Sporta Arena

Tottenham Hotspur U-21: Archer – Rowswell, Dorrington, Hardy (83. Feeney), King (63. Sowunmi) – Tye Hall, Byrne (63. Boast); Adewole, Ramsey (63. Williams-Barnett), Lehane (88. Moncur) – Tyrese Hall

Coach: Wayne Burnett

Dinamo b: Žnuderl – Mikić, Radnić, Žaja, Paunović – Taylor (88. Kasumović); Brundić (80. Zulfić), Baković (63. Šunta), Benkotić, Nsoki (63. Šivalec) – Ćutuk (63. Perković)

Coach: Jerko Leko

Goalscorers: 0-1 Brundić (25.), 1-1 Boast (66.), 2-1 Lehane (79.), 3-1 Williams-Barnett (85.)