Dinamo's Firecracker Ensures a Peaceful Path to the Playoffs: Sopić's Žalgiris Routed 5-0
The Blues dismantled the Lithuanian champions at Maksimir, with Smail Prevljak making his debut for the Zagreb club. Zinedin Smajlović debuted for Olympiakos.
The Blues dismantled the Lithuanian champions at Maksimir, with Smail Prevljak making his debut for the Zagreb club. Zinedin Smajlović debuted for Olympiakos.
Dinamo's footballers have taken a giant step towards the Champions League playoffs. In the first leg of the third qualifying round at Maksimir, they defeated Lithuanian Kauno Žalgiris, a team led by former Rijeka coach Željko Sopić, with a resounding 5-0. The return leg in Lithuania in a week's time should be a mere formality.
The Blues dominated from the first whistle. As early as the 3rd minute, they threatened through Luka Stojković, whose header went over the bar. Two minutes later, Miha Zajc, following a pass from Arbër Hoxha, hit the outside of the net with a backheel.
What was hanging in the air materialized in the 31st minute. Stojković found Zajc with a pass back, who scored from about 20 meters to make it 1-0, with a little help from the visiting goalkeeper and the post. Just two minutes later, after a short corner, Matteo Pérez Vinlöf crossed, and Scott McKenna headed the ball into the net for 2-0.
The second half brought another early goal. In the 51st minute, Mateo Lisica skillfully positioned himself at the edge of the box after a combination with Josip Mišić and increased the lead to 3-0 with a fine shot. The visitors came closest to scoring in the 67th minute when Franco Baldassarra hit the crossbar from about 30 meters.
The final 5-0 was set by Luka Stojković and Lukas Kačavenda. Stojković scored with a precise shot from the top of the box, hitting the post in the 77th minute (Klix.ba notes the 76th minute), after Dion Drena Beljo left the ball for him. Kačavenda capitalized on a rebound in the fourth minute of stoppage time for a big celebration at Maksimir.
The match was also marked by Smail Prevljak's debut for Dinamo. He came on in the 87th minute, replacing Beljo, marking his first appearance since being registered for the Zagreb club.
The same evening, new Bosnia and Herzegovina international Zinedin Smajlović made his debut for Olympiakos. In a goalless draw against NEC Nijmegen, he came off the bench in the 64th minute. Smajlović joined the Greek club from Norwegian side Sandefjord for approximately six million euros, and this was his first competitive appearance.
In other earlier matches, Ararat beat Celje 2-1, and Slovan Bratislava won 2-1 away at Mjällby. Hapoel Be'er Sheva surprised Red Star Belgrade with a 1-0 victory, while Levski narrowly defeated Kairat 1-0. Sparta Prague beat Lyon 2-1, and Union SG and Bodø/Glimt played out a 3-3 draw.
