It was the "springboard" from which the Blues soared to an impressive series. Rijeka defeated Dinamo 2-1 on the Maksimir pitch, after which an impressive record run by the Zagreb side began. It was precisely after that match that the Blues launched a series of 109 league matches without defeat at Maksimir.

This includes matches that were played at that stadium, regardless of whether Dinamo or another team was the formal home side. Rijeka's victory came in the 2nd league round. Dinamo took the lead first, however. Šime Vrsaljko broke through the right side in the 8th minute, crossed into the middle, and Sammir in full stride hammered the ball into the goal from the edge of the penalty area. Rijeka equalised in the 23rd minute. Radomir Đalović fired powerfully from about 20 metres on the right side, goalkeeper Filip Lončarić managed to save it, but Ivan Rodić pounced on the ball and sent it into the net for 1-1. In the 73rd minute, Hrvoje Štrok, then in Rijeka's white shirt rather than Dinamo's blue jersey, delivered a free kick from 25 metres on the right side, and Milan Badelj deflected the ball into his own net in the penalty area. It was a goal that also meant Rijeka's victory. After that match, there followed Dinamo's almost incredible 109 matches without defeat at Maksimir in HNL encounters.