Dinamo Breaks Kauno Žalgiris in Two Minutes
The Blues cruised past the Lithuanian side, led by Željko Sopić, in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round.
The Blues cruised past the Lithuanian side, led by Željko Sopić, in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round.
Dinamo played the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round against Kauno Žalgiris in Zagreb on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The match was marked by extreme heat, but also by a quick knockout from the Croatian champions, who settled the outcome in just two minutes midway through the first half.
Despite the unbearable 35°C heat, Dinamo imposed their rhythm from the very start and completely controlled possession. The visitors from Lithuania, coached from the bench by the well-known Željko Sopić, did not manage a single shot on goal in the first 45 minutes. For the first half-hour, Kauno Žalgiris's defense managed to hold firm, but the first barrier fell in the 31st minute.
In the 31st minute, Luka Stojković found Miha Zajc about twenty meters from goal. The experienced midfielder opted for a shot, and the ball slipped through the hands of visiting goalkeeper Tomas Švedkauskas. After hitting the post, the ball bounced into the net to give Dinamo a 1-0 lead.
Just two minutes later, Dinamo doubled their advantage. Zajc took a short corner for Matteo Pérez Vinlöf, who delivered a sharp low cross into the box. The ball reached Scott McKenna, who scored from a deflection to make it 2-0 and confirm the Blues' dominance.
The score remained unchanged until the final whistle, with Dinamo calmly seeing out the match. The winner of this tie will secure a spot in the play-off round of qualifying for Europe's premier club competition.
