Dinamo's brilliant opening, numerous chances in the opening minutes and early lead were cut short by a penalty in favour of the hosts and from that moment the match went their way. In the Champions League play-off second leg, Norwegian side Viking defeated Dinamo 3-1 at their Stavanger stadium on artificial turf, which, combined with the 2-2 draw at Maksimir, was enough for their first, historic qualification to the Champions League. Dinamo will continue their European journey in the Europa League, this will be the Blues' 12th appearance in the group or league phase of this competition, and their 22nd in groups across all UEFA competitions. The draw is scheduled for Friday at 1 PM in Nyon.

Coach Mario Kovačević's team opened the match brilliantly, creating as many as three chances before scoring in the 10th minute. First, Matteo Perez Vinlöf played into the centre in the 5th minute, Dion Drena Beljo left it for Luka Stojković who shot from 17 metres just wide of the goal.

More attacks followed, Arbër Hoxha led the attack, played to the right, the ball deflected off a block in a high arc to Mateo Lisica who skillfully controlled it with his right foot then struck with his left, but wide of the far post.

In the next attack Stojković pounced on a defensive error, controlled the ball with his head, broke clear alone in front of the goalkeeper who managed to close down the angle in time. But immediately after, Dinamo took the lead. Stojković entered the penalty area on the right side, cut back to the penalty spot where Hoxha, in a difficult situation under pressure, managed to reach the ball with his head and send it into the net

However, a sequence in the 18th minute completely turned the match around. Home captain Zlatko Tripić crossed from the right, the ball hit Scott McKenna's hand in the scramble in the penalty area. It was visible that Dinamo's centre-back was pulling his arm back at that moment trying to avoid contact with the ball, so there was no intention. The referee, Spaniard Jose Maria Sanchez, received a call from the VAR room and decided to award a penalty. Tripić himself took the spot kick and equalised.

It was a strong boost for the hosts who took control of the game, and in the last minute of the first half they were close to taking the lead. Kristoffer Askildsen shot from about ten metres on the left, and goalkeeper Ivan Nevistić saved the ball. Henrik Heggheim rushed in and lobbed over what was practically an empty goal. However, even if he had scored, the goal wouldn't have counted as Heggheim was offside.

Viking continued in similar fashion in the second half and already in the 47th minute created a big chance, and in the 48th scored to take the lead. First, the omnipresent Tripić crossed from a free kick on the right side, Nevistić saved the ball, Joe Bell shot powerfully and Henrik Falchener deflected it at the top of the penalty area, but Nevistić made a miraculous save on the goal line.

But immediately after came an error from the Zagreb defence that the hosts exploited fully. It was a misunderstanding when bringing the ball out of their penalty area, Nevistić played a low ball to the left, where Tripić intercepted it, after which the hosts concluded the move with a goal through three quick passes. Peter Christiansen received the ball, then Askildsen, after which Edvin Austbø fired it just under the crossbar.

It was the first of two minutes in which the hosts quickly went two goals ahead. Already in the 50th minute Falchener in the scramble in Dinamo's penalty area, with his back to goal, played a lay-off, Tobias Moi rushed in and shot powerfully and low, and the ball deflected off Dinamo captain Josip Mišić on the way, deceiving Nevistić and rolling into the net.

Dinamo came closest to scoring in the second half in the 77th minute, Stojković played through Mislav Oršić, who with a brilliant through ball from the left found Beljo who broke completely clear in front of the goalkeeper, but the ball flew wide of the post.

Stavanger, 26 August 2024

Champions League, play-off, second leg

Viking – Dinamo 3-1

(first leg: Dinamo – Viking 2-2)

Viking Stadium

Viking: Østbø – Heggheim (61. Bjørshol), Stensness, Falchener (61. Daland), K. Haugen (82. H.Haugen) – Moi, Bell; Tripić (82. Kvia-Egeskog), Askildsen, Austbø (89. Vevatne) – Christiansen

Coaches: Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim and Morten Jensen

Dinamo: Nevistić – Valinčić (82. Galešić), Dominguez, McKenna, Perez Vinlöf – Mišić; Lisica (82. Topić), Stojković (82. Mudražija), Zajc (55. Kačavenda), Hoxha (67. Oršić) – Beljo

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez (Spain)

Goalscorers: 0-1 Hoxha (10.), 1-1 Tripić (18. - pen), 2-1 Austbø (48.), 3-1 Moi (50.)