Dinamo left a good impression in both matches against Werder, with the Blues putting up an excellent fight against opponents of high European class, which Werder certainly were at that time. In a fiery match featuring three awarded penalties, the Germans celebrated victory in the return leg in Zagreb as well, this time 3-2, and advanced to the Champions League. In the first encounter in Bremen, despite Dinamo's lead, they overturned the result and won 2-1.

The Zagreb side continued their European adventure in the 1st round of the UEFA Cup, which was in practice a play-off for entry into the league phase of the competition. That's when the unforgettable victory against Ajax in Amsterdam followed.

At the start of the match, it seemed as if a time machine had taken us back a decade. Once again, the Maksimir team, in the final qualifying round of the Champions League, was chasing a 2-1 deficit from the first leg on home soil, and once again they encountered an executioner with a whistle. Back then against Newcastle United it was Urs Meier, and now it was Norwegian Terje Hauge. Few people understand even now why he awarded a penalty in the 13th minute. However it was, this time Brazilian Diego took on "Asprilla's role" and scored. It was difficult to accept the criteria imposed by the referee, who constantly interrupted Dinamo's attacks while allowing aggressive play from the visitors.

Nevertheless, Ognjen Vuković cleverly used a rebound in the 29th minute and aimed for the bottom right corner to make it 1-1. The stands erupted, and that roar served as a "jet engine" for the Maksimir players, who fiercely attacked towards goal. Twice the ball danced in front of Werder's goal line. A little later, Boško Balaban hit the crossbar, but in the midst of Maksimir's attacks, Mario Mandžukić clumsily touched the ball, and Werder's players rushed into a counter-attack. Diego ran into the penalty area, passed the goalkeeper, the ball was collected by Boubacar Sanogo, and when Maksimir goalkeeper Georg Koch managed to save it, the Werder striker was there again and placed it into the net for a new lead.

Hauge decided to see Christian Schulz's foul on Balaban in Werder's penalty area towards the end of the first half. Luka Modrić scored from the penalty spot and thus, at least temporarily, brought Dinamo back into the game. Diego concluded the story in the 71st minute with a new goal from the penalty spot. Previously, Etto had challenged Diego, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Interestingly, after such a match, Dinamo captain Luka Modrić graciously told reporters: "I don't want to make excuses about the refereeing. Robbery might be too strong a word."