It was an interesting match at Maksimir Stadium: Dinamo against the Yugoslavia national team. At that time, it wasn't uncommon for clubs and national teams to face each other in friendly matches. So it was that afternoon at Maksimir, where, for example, Dinamo captain Velimir Zajec played for the national team. In the end, Dinamo won.

This was the main test for the Yugoslav selection before the crucial match against Denmark in Copenhagen in the World Cup qualifiers for Spain. The match was watched live from the stands by Denmark's manager, German Sepp Piontek. Four days later, Yugoslavia defeated Denmark 2-1 in Copenhagen and thus stepped towards the World Cup.

This Maksimir match offered a real spectacle in front of 30,000 spectators: three goals scored, three times the crossbar was hit, one missed penalty...

Manager Miljan Miljanić suggested before the match that Dinamo players should play with full commitment because only that way would this main test make sense. And so it was. The Zagreb blues played vigorously, they were inspired and in good form, and ultimately won 2-1.

Already in the 13th minute, Petar Bručić provided a brilliant assist, Boro Cvetković broke through alone in front of goalkeeper Dragan Pantelić, but shot over the goal.

The playmakers of both teams were the noble midfielders: Marko Mlinarić for Dinamo and Edhem Šljivo for the national team. It was Šljivo who hit the crossbar from 18 metres in the 26th minute. And four minutes later, Mlinarić on the other side also shook the crossbar with an effective shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Yugoslavia was close to taking the lead in the 35th minute when referee Jovica Korolija hastily awarded a penalty after Zvjezdan Cvetković and Vladimir Petrović Pižon clashed in the penalty area. Vahid Halilhodžić, later a famous Dinamo manager, took the penalty from the spot. However, Maksimir goalkeeper Zvonko Marić prevented the goal with an effective save.

Dinamo particularly came alive in the first twenty minutes of the second half, the blues played inspiringly, led by maestro Mlinarić. The complete Dinamo ensemble offered an attractive performance.

Marko Mlinarić and Stjepan Deverić exchanged an effective one-two pass in the 52nd minute. In the next touch, Mlinarić went past three defenders before being fouled by goalkeeper Ratko Svilar, who had come on at half-time instead of Pantelić. Zoran Panić scored from the penalty spot.

Just 10 minutes later came another effective action by the blues, Panić started a run almost from the centre of the pitch, freed himself from his marker with a feint and lobbed the ball into the net from 25 metres.

Yugoslavia reduced the deficit in the 67th minute after an action initiated by Zajec. In his characteristic run from his defensive zone, he played to the right where Petrović was positioned, who then crossed into the centre, and Halilhodžić scored with a header.

In the closing stages of the match, in the 84th minute, Zlatko Vujović hit the crossbar, which prevented an equaliser.