Silence in the third minute and thunderous applause in the final minute. That's the picture from the match in which Dinamo convincingly defeated the Hungarian champions, the popular MTK, 3-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Cup first round. Dinamo had started their European season in the Champions League qualifying rounds where they first overcame Maribor before being stopped by Dynamo Kyiv. The Blues then moved to the UEFA Cup, where they defeated MTK 3-1 in the first match and preserved their advantage with a 0-0 draw in the return leg. In the next round, the Zagreb side again came up against Ukrainian opposition, this time Dnipro proved stronger.

Dinamo coach Nikola Jurčević had emphasized before the match against the Hungarians that he would most like a victory by at least 2-0. In the end, he got the goal difference right, but not the exact result.

However, MTK also had their moments. Moreover, the visitors took the lead as early as the 3rd minute, striker Bela Illes had a chance to increase the lead, Dinamo goalkeeper Marko Šarlija made three brilliant saves, and the Hungarians had a penalty opportunity late in the match...

Sandor Torghelle headed the ball into the net in the 3rd minute at the edge of Dinamo's penalty area to give the visitors the lead. Obviously angry with themselves, the home players fiercely charged towards the opponents' goal. Immediately after the mentioned goal, within the space of one minute, the visitors' crossbar shook twice, and once the goalkeeper had to save an equalizer. But in the 37th minute he couldn't manage to save it. After chaos in the MTK penalty area, after as many as four powerful shots towards goal, Eduardo da Silva managed to find the net.

At the start of the second half, Jasmin Agić struck 'out of the blue' from 20 meters and scored for 2-1. Euphoria followed, which resulted in Dinamo's third goal, this time from the penalty spot. First Dumitru Mitu fell in the penalty area, the referee played advantage, and in the continuation of the action Hrvoje Štrok was charging forward when Goran Jezdimirović stopped him with a foul. Goce Sedloski scored from the penalty spot. Dinamo had several more chances after that, but in the end can be satisfied that the Hungarians missed a 'consolation' goal for 3-2.

Peter Czvitkovics missed a penalty in the 88th minute that was caused by Dino Drpić. The Maksimir defender also earned a red card in the process.