With powerful attacks in the second half, Dinamo turned the match around and came from behind to secure a convincing victory. The Blues defeated an exceptionally strong, quality and very well-drilled Varaždin team 3-1 in the 4th round of SuperSport HNL after the visitors had the lead in their hands during the first half.

The match itself offered several spectacular sequences: Dion Drena Beljo was both scorer and double assist provider, Matteo Perez Vinlöf initiated the equalizer practically with his first touch of the ball after coming off the bench, Niko Galešić scored for 2-1 with a juggling heel move, Robert Mudražija scored his first goal in a Dinamo shirt with an outburst of emotions and a visible tear of joy, Mislav Oršić made a classy gesture by letting the ball go into the goal after Mudražija's shot although he had the opportunity to push it into the net himself...

The comeback, the power in the second half and team spirit, visible even in the reaction to that third goal in stoppage time, are the essence of this interesting and tense match.

Varaždin threatened in the 7th minute, Luka Mamić sent the ball forward, Ivan Mamut broke through alone from the left side, and Ivan Nevistić prevented the goal with a brilliant reaction. However, if the ball had gone into the net, VAR would probably have been involved to check for a possible offside.

Maksimir captain Josip Mišić shot from 25 meters in the 26th minute, the ball bounced awkwardly off the ground in the penalty area, but goalkeeper Josip Silić managed to save it. Two minutes later at the other end, Ivan Canjuga crossed from the corner, and Mario Mladenovski headed home to give Varaždin the lead.

In the closing stages of the first half, Iuri Tavares pushed the ball forward on the left side to Mamut who broke through alone again, slightly from the left, and sent it wide of the far post.

Dinamo shifted into a higher gear in the second half, Stjepan Radeljić sent a long vertical ball on the left side, Perez Vinlöf crossed sharply past the goal, Beljo skillfully received it and from a turn, under pressure, managed to send it into the net for the equalizer. It was practically Perez Vinlöf's first touch of the ball after coming off the bench onto the pitch.

Soon after, he drove towards goal himself after Beljo's pass, but Silić got in the way. Arbër Hoxha intercepted the ball in the opponent's half, shot from 18 meters, but it flew wide of the goal. It was a prelude to the complete comeback that followed in the 68th minute.

After a corner kick, Beljo received the ball in a crowded penalty area, moved to the right and lightning-quick from a turn sent a sharp short pass to the penalty spot where Galešić with a masterful heel move, right foot behind his standing left, deflected it into the opposite bottom corner.

Hoxha had a great chance practically in the next attack, Miha Zajc played him through brilliantly, and the Maksimir winger broke through completely alone in front of goalkeeper Silić and sent the ball wide of the goal.

The final sequences belonged to Mudražija. In the 90th minute, after a brilliant pass from Fran Topić, he shot into the bottom corner, Silić touched the ball with his fingertips, which then hit the – post. But Mudražija still scored his first goal in a Dinamo shirt three minutes later. He initiated the move himself, played through Oršić, who passed to Beljo... Mudražija received it again, the goalkeeper touched it, and as it rolled towards the net, Oršić was there, right at the goal line. He could have smashed it into the goal himself, but he "left Mudražija in the scorers' column" by shielding the ball and letting it go into the net.

Zagreb, 22 August 2024.

SuperSport HNL, Round 4

Dinamo – Varaždin 3-1

Maksimir Stadium

Dinamo: Nevistić – Tabinas (56. Valinčić), Galešić, Radeljić, Goda (56. Perez Vinlöf) – Mišić; Lisica (81. Topić), Kačavenda, Zajc (73. Mudražija), Hoxha (73. Oršić) – Beljo

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Varaždin: Silić – Maglica, Mladenovski, Tepšić, Sikošek – Canjuga, Marina (60. Duvnjak); Latković (80. Jurić), Mamić (73. Puclin), Tavares (73. Uchegbu) – Mamut (60. Vuk)

Coach: Nikola Šafarić

Referee: Duje Strukan (Split), Attendance: 6,750

Scorers: 0-1 Mladenovski (28.), 1-1 Beljo (57.), 2-1 Galešić (68.), 3-1 Mudražija (90+3.)