Loud applause, celebratory chanting and ovations in the final seconds of the match. Maksimir erupted deep into stoppage time: Dion Drena Beljo fired the ball into the net from the penalty spot for Dinamo's first win of the season in the Europa League league phase! In an intriguing, tense and hard-fought match, Dinamo beat Belgium's Anderlecht 1-0. After two matches played, the Blues have four points, and their next test awaits on 22 October, when Dutch side NEC Nijmegen visit Maksimir.

With relentless pressure in the closing minutes, the Maksimir side gradually wore down the opposition's defence, and before the winning goal they twice more had a chance to find a path to goal. Arbër Hoxha "came alive" in the finish, winning every duel and keeping firm control of the ball as he caused problems for the opposition's defence with his runs down the left, while Dani Rodriguez, who operated on the right wing, also brought energy off the bench. It was Hoxha who, in the 81st minute, received the ball after captain Josip Mišić set him free with a brilliant pass. Hoxha raced alone towards goal, the crowd already on its feet expecting a goal, but the Maksimir winger took one touch too many, enough for an opposing defender to slide in from behind at the last moment and take the ball away.

In stoppage time, Rodriguez and Beljo took the leading roles. First the Spanish attacker launched a counter-attack and, to everyone's surprise, did not play the ball through to Beljo, who had a completely open path to goal. He chose to dribble instead, got stuck in the gap between two defenders and lost the ball...

But just two minutes later Hoxha switched play from left to right, Rodriguez controlled the high ball and sent a first-time cross into the middle, and Oleg Reabciuk stopped it with both hands as he fell. The referee, with the help of VAR, confirmed that this "two-handed forehand" was a clear penalty. From the spot, Beljo calmly, confidently and powerfully slammed it home.

The foundation of this Dinamo win was the excellent, inspired Maksimir goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski, whose several top-class saves paved the way to the points. However, the Belgians were a solid and dangerous opponent, especially in the first half. Already in the 8th minute, Thelo Aasgaard shot from 18 metres, slightly from the left, and the ball flew past the far post. Just two minutes later, Kaïs Barry sent a long ball down the right through for Mihajlo Cvetković, who got away from the defence, broke through alone and struck fiercely from 17 metres, but inaccurately, past the nearer post.

The visitors came close to scoring in the 21st minute, creating two big chances in the same move. Within just five seconds, they hit the crossbar twice. First Marten Winkler raced down the right and crossed in front of goal, and Cvetković headed the ball onto the crossbar. In the continuation of the same move, Lukaš Ambros rolled the ball to the left, Reabciuk ran onto it and struck powerfully, and Kotarski deflected it onto the crossbar.

In the 28th minute, Winkler crossed from the right, Tristan Degreef headed towards goal, and Kotarski prevented the goal with another brilliant reaction.

Around ten minutes later, sparks flew at the other end: Luka Stojković delivered a corner, Sergi Dominguez flicked it on with his head at the near post, and in the six-yard box the ball struck Niko Galešić on the leg and bounced to the goalkeeper.

In the 42nd minute, Hoxha raced down the left wing and the opposition defenders briefly halted the move, but in the scramble near the byline, at the edge of the six-yard box, Luka Ivanušec, falling, managed to turn and pass the ball back to a spot seven metres out. Iker Almena ran onto it and struck first time, over the bar.

At the start of the second half, Winkler shot with his left foot from the right, and Kotarski palmed the ball away with a superb save.

In the 78th minute, Rodriguez played a through ball for Lukas Kačavenda, who raced down the right and sent the ball across to Beljo, but the Maksimir striker was under pressure and the visitors managed to disrupt him at the last moment. A minute later, Kotarski once again earned applause: Aasgaard struck powerfully from 20 metres, and Dinamo's goalkeeper flew through the air to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Zagreb, 15 October 2026

UEFA Europa League. Matchday 2

Dinamo – Anderlecht 1-0

Maksimir Stadium

Dinamo: Kotarski – Galešić (62. Valinčić), Dominguez, Radeljić, Perez Vinlöf – Mišić; Almena (62. Rodriguez), Stojković (68. Kačavenda), Ivanušec, Hoxha – Beljo

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Anderlecht: Coosemans – Barry, Omobamidele, Petrot, Reabciuk – Stroeykens (87. Amane); Winkler (87. Antman), Ambros (65. Bentayeb), Aasgaard, Degreef (77. Bertaccini) – Cvetković (77. Sikan)

Coach: Vitor Bruno

Referee: Orel Tsvika Grinfeeld (Israel), Attendance: 12,279

Scorer: 1-0 Beljo (90+6 – pen.)