Dinamo squanders 2:0 lead against Viking at Maksimir
The Blues opened the fourth qualifying round of the Champions League brilliantly, but Norway's Viking fought back to 2:2, leaving everything open for the return leg in Stavanger.
The Blues opened the fourth qualifying round of the Champions League brilliantly, but Norway's Viking fought back to 2:2, leaving everything open for the return leg in Stavanger.
GNK Dinamo and Norway's Viking from Stavanger played out a 2:2 draw in the first leg of the Champions League fourth qualifying round at Maksimir. The hosts took a two-goal lead after just 10 minutes, but the visitors had leveled the score by halftime.
Dinamo opened the match in a frenzy. Dion Drena Beljo, the center-forward from Vinkovci, bundled the ball into the net from close range with his chest in the 6th minute to make it 1:0. Just four minutes later, Beljo turned provider, and his pass was converted by Mateo Lisica to extend the lead to 2:0.
Viking, however, did not fold. Peter Christiansen halved the deficit in the 26th minute, and Zlatko Tripić found the net in the 39th minute to make it 2:2, completely bringing his team back into the tie, as reported by Budica Info.
In the second half, the net remained undisturbed, but Dinamo came closer to winning. Zajc and Oršić both hit the woodwork, but as the source notes, that doesn't count. GNK Dinamo posted a photo of Luka Stanzl on Twitter with the message "Only 20 more minutes."
After 90 minutes at Maksimir, everything remains wide open. The decision on who advances to the Champions League will be made in eight days, in the return leg in Stavanger. The overall winner of the tie will play in the Champions League, while the loser will continue in the Europa League.
