With an inspired, attractive and brilliant performance, scoring five goals to thunderous applause from the stands, Dinamo's footballers have moved very close to the Champions League play-off. In the first leg of the 3rd qualifying round, coach Mario Kovačević's team outplayed Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris 5:0, with five different goalscorers, and will seek confirmation of their progression next Tuesday in the return leg in Lithuania. The overall winner of this tie will face Norwegian side Viking in the final step before the league phase of Europe's elite club competition.

Besides the brilliant performance, this humid but footballing pleasant summer evening was interesting for several other details: the moment when Miha Zajc scored for 1:0 marked Dinamo's jubilee 150th goal at Maksimir in the European Cup and Champions League system throughout history, including all levels from qualifying rounds and group stages. The Maksimir footballers came close to equalling their record club victory in Zagreb in European club competitions. They have twice won on this ground with a six-goal margin, and this is the seventh time they have seen off opponents with a five-goal advantage. We will also remember this match for the debut appearance of new signing Smail Prevljak who came off the bench in the closing stages of the encounter.

Dinamo threatened in the 13th minute, Mateo Lisica played a short pass to Luka Stojković on the right flank, he struck sharply from 14 metres, but the goalkeeper parried for a corner.

Dinamo shook the opponent's net twice within a minute and a half. Lisica found Stojković on the right flank in the 31st minute, he passed to Zajc who struck first-time from 20 metres from the centre, slightly to the left, the ball hit the near post and rolled behind the goal line. That was, therefore, Dinamo's 150th goal at Maksimir in the European Cup and Champions League system throughout history. Soon after, Zajc took a corner by playing the ball short, Matteo Perez Vinlöf received it and crossed into the penalty area. There Scott McKenna got his foot to it in the scramble, the ball then hit Amine Benchaib and deflected into the bottom corner for 2:0.

At the start of the second half, in the 51st minute, the two on the scoreboard became three. Stojković drove the attack down the right flank, passed to Sergio Dominguez, who played it back to the advancing Josip Mišić... The Maksimir captain played a low through ball which was cleverly received by Lisica, who turned and powerfully and precisely struck with his left foot from 18 metres into the far corner.

Five minutes later Moris Valančić crossed from the right, Dion Drena Beljo headed goalwards, the ball bounced off the ground and flew under the crossbar, but the Lithuanian goalkeeper managed to clear it.

The visitors threatened in the 67th minute, Franco Baldassarra tried his luck with a shot from 25 metres and – hit the crossbar right at the junction with the post.

Seven minutes later captain Mišić again initiated the move for a goal. From the centre of the pitch he sent a long low ball, Beljo received it with his back to the opponent's goal, laid it off for Stojković who precisely struck from 18 metres, slightly to the left, hitting the near post from which the ball rebounded into the goal.

The story was concluded in the 4th minute of stoppage time, again the omnipresent Mišić started an attack from deep in his own half, advanced some twenty metres, sent the ball forward to Lukas Kačavenda, who escaped his marker, broke clear in front of the goalkeeper who managed to save his first shot, but the young Maksimir midfielder succeeded in his second attempt to place the ball in the corner for 5:0.

Zagreb, 4 August 2024.

UEFA Champions League, 3rd qualifying round, first leg

Dinamo – Kauno Žalgiris 5:0

Maksimir Stadium

Dinamo: Filipović – Valančić, Dominguez, McKenna, Perez Vinlöf – Mišić; Lisica (71. Topić), Stojković (86. Vidović), Zajc (71. Kačavenda), Hoxha (61. Oršić) – Beljo (86. Prevljak)

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Kauno Žalgiris: Švedkauskas – Moutachy, Tolordava, Lekiatas, Konatar (46. Edokpolor) – Kreković (46. Karashima), Baldassarra, Slivka, Ourega (57. Fiolić) – Benchaib (84. Debeljuh), Oliveira (65. Kalik)

Coach: Željko Sopić

Referee: Erik Lambrechts (Belgium), Attendance: 12,147

Goalscorers: 1:0 Zajc (31.), 2:0 McKenna (33.), 3:0 Lisica (51.), 4:0 Stojković (76.), 5:0 Kačavenda (90+4.)