Dinamo led 2:0 at halftime in the return leg of the Champions League third qualifying round against Kauno Žalgiris but were reduced to ten men due to a bizarre sending-off of goalkeeper Ivan Filipović.
Dinamo's footballers completed the first 45 minutes of the return leg of the Champions League third qualifying round in Lithuania with mixed feelings. On one hand, they secured a comfortable 2:0 lead and an aggregate advantage of 7:0, but on the other, they were left with a man down after goalkeeper Ivan Filipović received a straight red card in the 32nd minute.
The Zagreb club thus showed two completely different faces in Kaunas. While one part of the team shone and earned high marks, the other embarked on an unnecessary adventure that will give coach Mario Kovačević serious headaches ahead of the playoffs.
Dinamo took the lead in the 19th minute following a brilliant move orchestrated by Luka Stojković. Dion Drena Beljo unselfishly set up Lukas Kačavenda, who calmly slotted the ball into the net for 1:0. The club's official Twitter profile immediately reacted with a post: "A textbook finish from Kača!!! 📚"
Josip Mišić made it 2:0 in the 30th minute. From about twenty meters out, he intercepted a pass and, without hesitation, unleashed a shot toward the top right corner. His strike was unstoppable, and Sportske novosti noted that Mišić is "calibrated for one or two goals per season, but when he does find the net, he does it with a highlight-reel strike."
Special praise went to Matreo Perez-Vinlof, who, according to Sportske novosti, played "the best twenty or so minutes since joining Dinamo." They even compared him to the legendary German full-back: "Like a Philip Lahm doppelganger, elusive for opponents." The young player received a rating of 7.5, same as goalscorer Mišić.
Just two minutes after Mišić's goal, shock followed. Ivan Filipović raced far outside his penalty area to stop a long ball toward forward Motiejus Burbis. In an attempt to clear the danger, Dinamo's goalkeeper handled the ball outside the box and brought down the home player in the process.
Referee Davide Massa had no doubts and immediately showed him a straight red card. Telegram.hr described the situation as a "bizarre move" and added that "Filipović came out late and really messed up." Sportske novosti wrote that the goalkeeper "went on an adventure for no reason and gave Kovačević serious headaches," rating his performance a clear 5.
Coach Mario Kovačević had to react quickly. Already in the 34th minute, he took Mateo Lisica off and sent Ivan Nevistić between the posts. For this Croatian goalkeeper, it was his first appearance since January 29 this year, when he played against Midtjylland.
Despite being a man down, Dinamo managed to maintain control until the end of the half. Kauno Žalgiris did liven up after the sending-off and took the initiative, but they failed to seriously threaten Nevistić. Telegram.hr concluded that the Blues are "a worthy opponent even with a man less, so the second half should just be a matter of finishing the job."
