A spectacular first 40 minutes, with the visitors taking a 3-0 lead before Dinamo's furious fightback, numerous chances, a shot hitting the crossbar from the centre circle, brilliant saves from the Italian goalkeeper... Dinamo and Juventus players served up football for connoisseurs, with fine margins ultimately favouring the visitors. In the Group A matchday 1 clash of the international junior tournament Mladen Ramljak, Juventus defeated Dinamo 3-2 in a match where all five goals came in the first half.

Dinamo came agonisingly close to completing a comeback from three goals down, as Jona Benkotić in the 39th minute, with Juventus leading 3-2, lobbed the goalkeeper with a shot from the centre circle, 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 as Benkotić played to Rok Ban, the ball was then collected by Jeon Jin-Woo, who passed right where Kaloyan Bozhkov had made a run and fired the ball into the far bottom corner.

The Italians quickly took the lead from their first foray into Dinamo's box. Raffaele Aresini drove 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 doubled 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 from the left flank as well. This time left-back Jacopo Del Fabro took over Aresini's role, crossing with his right foot, and Urbano got his foot to it in the scramble and bulged the net.

Then Dinamo decided to "shake up the match", furious attacks from the home side followed, and in those final ten minutes of the first half Juventus' defence was severely tested with only fine margins and brilliant visiting goalkeeper Emanuelle Giaretta keeping the guests in front.

First Bozhkov burst down the right in the 33rd minute and struck powerfully, but the Italian keeper made a save to prevent the goal. Three minutes later Benkotić shot from the left, Giaretta saved again. However, the Maksimir midfielder collected the rebound and from almost the goal line played a low ball back, Ban ran onto it and slammed home Dinamo's first goal.

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

Already in the next attack Jeon on the right wing set up Benkotić 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 first-half stoppage time the omnipresent Benkotić again, in a move following a corner, struck powerfully in the penalty area, but Giaretta with another miraculous save prevented the equaliser.

The tempo dropped in the second half, as the Italians made four substitutions at half-time and then strengthened their defensive wall. Dinamo's best chance came in the 62nd minute when Fran Kramarić struck from 17 metres, slightly from the right, and the ball whistled just wide of the far bottom corner.

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

Juventus right winger Demba Sall Samb was named Player of the Match.

In the other match in this group Benfica and Club Brugge drew 1-1. On Friday, the second day of the tournament, the Maksimir footballers will face Belgian Club 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.)