Zajc's Masterpiece Stuns Slovenia

GNK Dinamo made a huge step towards the UEFA Champions League playoff. In the first match of the third qualifying round, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at Maksimir Stadium, coach Mario Kovačević's side dismantled Lithuanian champions Kauno Žalgiris 5-0. The return leg in Lithuania next week will be a mere formality, and the Blues can already shift their focus to Norway's Viking, who await them in the final stage of qualifying.

Dinamo dominated from the first minute and left no doubt about the winner. Although Luka Stojković missed a big chance in the 13th minute, the visitors' net was bulged in the 32nd minute. Miha Zajc scored with a precise strike from the edge of the box to make it 1-0. Just a minute later, Scott McKenna headed in from Vinlöf's cross, with a slight deflection off Benchaib, to double the lead to 2-0, effectively sealing the win before halftime.

Second-Half Onslaught: Lisica, Stojković, and Kačavenda Seal the Rout

Early in the second half, Mateo Lisica fired a powerful shot to make it 3-0. Dion Drena Beljo could have added a fourth a few minutes later, but goalkeeper Tomas Svedkauskas made a brilliant save. Kauno Žalgiris, coached by Željko Sopić, managed their first shot on target only in the 67th minute when Franco Baldassarra hit the woodwork.

The closing stages belonged to the Zagreb side again. Luka Stojković scored with a precise effort in the 76th minute to make it 4-0, and Lukas Kačavenda set the final score in stoppage time. The celebrations at Maksimir were captured by club photographer Luka Stanzl, whose photos were posted on the club's official Twitter profile.

Slovenian Nostalgia: "What We Would Give for Him to Return"

Besides the Zagreb fans, Slovenian media also closely followed the match, paying special attention to the performance of 32-year-old midfielder Miha Zajc. He wore the jersey of Ljubljana's Olimpija over three years ago, making 83 appearances with 20 goals and 13 assists. Zajc later closed the door on the Slovenian national team, so his brilliant displays in Dinamo's colors are viewed with a bitter taste in that country.

"Zajc was the scorer of Dinamo's first goal, and it was a true masterpiece," writes Slovenian portal Ekipa, referring to his 32nd-minute strike, as reported by Jutarnji list. Alongside Zajc, the neighboring country also follows with great nostalgia the career of Raul Florucz, an Austrian forward who once played for Sesvete, Hrvatski dragovoljac, Lokomotiva, and Jarun. He shone in the jersey of Belgian side Royal Union SG, scoring twice in a 3-3 thriller against Bodø/Glimt.

"What would the Dragons give in their current crisis for him and Zajc to play for them..." Ekipa wonders in the conclusion of a text tinged with longing for something currently unattainable.