Dinamo dismantled Kauno Žalgiris 5-0 in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round, practically securing a playoff spot, and the visitors' coach Željko Sopić was candid in his assessment of the gap in quality.
Dinamo's footballers took a giant step toward the Champions League playoff with a convincing 5-0 victory over Lithuania's Kauno Žalgiris at Maksimir in the first leg of the third qualifying round. Two goals within a minute late in the first half broke the visitors' resistance, and the Croatian champions added three more in the second half to seal the 5-0 scoreline.
Miha Zajc (32'), Scott McKenna (33'), Mateo Lisica (51'), Luka Stojković (76'), and Lukas Kačavenda (90+4') were the scorers for Dinamo. The halftime score was already 2-0, and the complete dominance of the Zagreb side was underscored by the fact that Kauno managed their first shot on target only in the 67th minute.
Dinamo had their first serious chance in the 13th minute when Luka Stojković fired from a tight angle from ten meters, but Lithuanian goalkeeper Tomas Svedkauskas made a brilliant save. However, after the cooling break, two quick goals followed. First, Miha Zajc curled a shot from 18 meters into the corner of the Lithuanian goal in the 32nd minute, and just a minute later, Scott McKenna tapped in from close range, with a little help from teammate Benchaib, to make it 2-0.
In the second half, Mateo Lisica blasted a shot from ten meters in the 51st minute to extend the lead to 3-0. Dion Drena Beljo headed against the crossbar in the 56th minute, but Svedkauskas made a reflex save. The visitors then threatened in the 67th minute when Argentine Franco Baldassarra hit the junction of post and bar from 30 meters.
Luka Stojković, who assisted the first goal, got on the scoresheet himself in the 76th minute after a brilliant pass from Mišić. He shot from the edge of the box, and the ball went in off the left post. The final 5-0 was set by Lukas Kačavenda in the 94th minute, finishing a counter-attack on his second attempt.
Dinamo coach Mario Kovačević did not hide his satisfaction: "We're really happy, we played excellently, started seriously, and scored two goals in the first half. At halftime, we said we must not stop, and we added three more in the second half. The heat took its toll; it was very hot and intense to play, but we managed to break through and win."
On the other side, Kauno Žalgiris coach Željko Sopić was realistic and composed after the heavy defeat. "Not because I'm a Dinamo fan, I'm fully aware of my team and everything; it would have been the same if we'd played Lech Poznań or Red Star Belgrade-that's another level. I know we'll be much better in the Conference League. I can't say I'm satisfied; we lost 5-0, but look, I was a player, and some things aren't clear to me. When you play in front of this many fans, you make incredible mistakes that Dinamo capitalized on. They're simply better; they're for the Champions League, and we're for the Conference League," Sopić stated.
He added that he is aware of his team's limitations: "Quality costs money; our squad isn't balanced, but I congratulate my boys. Now I should say we'll try something in the return leg, but I'm a realistic man. We'll focus on the league." Sopić concluded that Dinamo can prepare for the playoff and Norwegian side Viking, while his team will focus on the domestic championship and the fight for first place.
The return leg will be played in a week in Kaunas, but the question of the winner is practically settled. Dinamo will most likely face Norwegian side Viking in the Champions League playoff, and their HNL derby against Rijeka has been postponed.
