Dinamo cadets under coach Tomislav Mikulić are the new Croatian champions!

Going into the final, 26th round, our boys had a three-point advantage over second-placed Hajduk, so even a draw in Osijek would have been enough to secure the title.

However, Dinamo were far from coming to the Opus Arena to defend.

On the contrary, they entered the match as if "tomorrow doesn't exist", and from the first minute they went on the attack, looking for a goal and a calmer entry into the final stages of the match.

So the young Blue Lions had three good chances in the period from the 27th minute, but Marin Nekić twice and Jona Benkotić failed to find the net.

However, given the field dominance and the fact that a goal was "hanging in the air", it was only a matter of time before our players would take the lead.

It happened in the 29th minute. Luka Radić broke down the left flank, crossed to the near post, and Nekić was quickest to react and tucked the ball behind the Osijek goalkeeper.

Just four minutes later, the Blues extended their lead. Adriano Debelec picked up a rebound and from about 20 meters "launched" the ball into the top corner.

The champions didn't stop there either. In the 43rd minute, captain Benkotić crossed from the left side, and in front of goal Nekić was again the quickest, scoring his second and Dinamo's third goal.

That was the score at halftime.

The second half was pure job completion. Osijek were powerless to threaten our goal, and we maintained the result like veterans and waited for the end of the match and the start of a big celebration.

We can highlight a good attempt by Viduka in the 60th minute which the home goalkeeper saved with a great effort for a corner.

In that second half, coach Mikulić also gave a chance to all the players from the bench, so goalkeeper Matija Jakirović showed his potential in the 80th minute when he brilliantly "denied" a 1-on-1 situation to an Osijek attacker.

As soon as the referee signaled the end of the match, all the players ran onto the pitch and with a big celebration with pre-prepared "Champions" shirts showed how much this title means to them.

"The feeling is phenomenal. We fought with Hajduk all season and played a brilliant second half of the season. I congratulate my boys from the heart, I know how much this means to them, and I wish them lots of luck and success in the next categories they're moving to", were coach Mikulić's first impressions.

"We completely dominated Osijek and settled everything in the first half. We're overjoyed, I congratulate my teammates, coaches, technical staff, management... In the second half of the season we were incredible, we won everything in a row, and now we'll deservedly celebrate", said captain Benkotić.

And when the boys talk about that second half of the season, it's important to highlight that they were unbeaten in the league for half a year. And not only that, but this was actually their 14th consecutive league victory!

In the end, plus six ahead of the runners-up and a completely deserved title.

We congratulate the boys from the heart, and wish you lots of luck and success in your future careers.

Bravo Blue Lions!