A spectacular first 40 minutes, guests taking a 3-0 lead followed by Dinamo's furious comeback, numerous chances, crossbar hit from the centre circle, brilliant saves by the Italian goalkeeper... The footballers of Dinamo and Juventus served up football for connoisseurs, with fine margins ultimately tipping the scales in favour of the visitors. In the Group A matchday 1 fixture of the international junior Mladen Ramljak tournament, Juventus defeated Dinamo 3-2 in a match where all five goals came in the first half.

Dinamo came very close to completely turning around the match after being three goals down. Jona Benkotić in the 39th minute, with Juventus leading 3-2, attempted a lob from the centre circle over the goalkeeper, and the ball in a high arc on its downward trajectory hit the front of the crossbar... Just a few millimetres were missing.

The Blues created an attractive move down the left in the 5th minute. Benkotić played to Roko Ban, the ball was then picked up by Jeon Jin-Woo, who passed right where Kaloyan Bozhkov ran in and fired the ball into the far bottom corner.

The Italians soon took the lead from their first foray in front of Dinamo's goal. Raffaele Aresini broke through from the left into the centre, played short to Giacomo Urbano, who ran left into the penalty area and found the near corner.

Just eight minutes later Juventus extended their lead. Again Aresini was at the source of the move, crossing from the left to the far post where Demba Sall Samb arrived and managed to deflect the ball over the line while falling at the edge of the six-yard box.

The visitors created their third goal also from the left flank. This time Aresini's role was taken over by left-back Jacopo Del Fabro, who crossed with his right foot, and Urbano got his foot to it in the scramble and shook the net.

That's when Dinamo decided to shake up the match. Furious attacks by the home side followed, and in those final ten minutes of the first half, Juventus's defence was severely tested, with only fine margins and brilliant visiting goalkeeper Emanuelle Giaretta keeping the guests in the lead.

First Bozhkov ran in from the right in the 33rd minute and shot powerfully, but the Italian goalkeeper prevented the goal with a save. Three minutes later Benkotić shot from the left, Giaretta saved again. However, the Maksimir midfielder picked up the rebound and from almost the goal line played a low cross back, Ban ran in and slotted home for Dinamo's first goal.

Two minutes later the Maksimir footballers found the path to goal again, reduced the deficit to 2-3, ignited the passion in the stands and brought the scent of a comeback into the hot summer air. Bozhkov delivered from the corner, Karlo Zirdum first headed then shot with his foot, and only at the third attempt in the scramble managed to bundle the ball into the goal for a complete return to the match.

In the very next move Jeon on the right wing played Benkotić through in the penalty area, he got his foot to it, but the goalkeeper with another brilliant reaction again prevented what seemed a certain goal.

In the same minute came Benkotić's attempt from the centre circle, the ball in a high arc hit the crossbar. In stoppage time of the first half, again it was the omnipresent Benkotić, in a move after a corner, shooting powerfully in the penalty area, but Giaretta with another miraculous save prevented the equaliser.

The pace dropped in the second half, the Italians made four substitutions at half-time and then strengthened their defensive wall. Dinamo's biggest chance came in the 62nd minute when Fran Kramarić shot from 17 metres, slightly to the right, and the ball whistled past the far bottom corner.

In the 72nd minute, young Dinamo striker Ivan Jurčić awkwardly twisted while receiving the ball, grimaced in pain as he grabbed his right knee and had to leave the pitch.

Juventus right-winger Demba Sall Samb was named player of the match.

In the other match of this group, Benfica and Brugge drew 1-1. On Friday, the second day of the tournament, the Maksimir footballers will face Belgian side Brugge at 19:15.

Zagreb, 6 August 2026.

Mladen Ramljak Tournament Group A, Matchday 1

Dinamo – Juventus 2:3

Maksimir Stadium, Zlatko Cico Kranjčar pitch

Dinamo: Nemet – Kadić (41. Kramarić), Radnić, Zirdum, Paunović (72. Žaja) – Radoš; Radić (56. Jurčić, 72. Miličić), Bozhkov (56. Željković), Benkotić, Jeon – Ban (56. Nekić)

Coach: Milan Badelj

Juventus: Giaretta – Rigo (62. Badan), Badarau, Osakue (41. Rocchetti), Del Fabro (41. Carfora)– Giambavicchio (41. Banchio), Brancato; Samb, Marchisio (53. Basile), Aresini (41. Hay) – Urbano (62. Splendore)

Coach: Piero Panzanaro

Referee: Sven Pintarić

Goalscorers: 0:1 Urbano (11.), 0:2 Samb (19.), 0:3 Urbano (27.), 1:3 Ban (36.), 2:3 Zirdum (38.)