Dinamo Zagreb handily defeated Romanian club Astra Giurgiu in the opening week of the Europa League group stages with a score of 5-1. The victory leaves them leading the group after Celtic FC and Red Bull Salzburg drew 2-2 in their match today.
Dinamo’s scored five goals in the match on the heels of a hat trick scored by El Arbi Hillel Soudani, who scored all three of his goals in the first half, quickly putting the match out of reach for the Romanian side.
Soudani scored in the 17th, 24th, and 45th minute of the first half. His hat trick was topped off by one of the easiest goals he has ever scored. Wilson sent in a cross after some ticky-tacky passing and running to get a good angle for the cross. The ball came to Soudani, but there were no Astra defenders to be seen within 10 yards of the Dinamo striker. Soudani scored the most un-marked goal he could ever hope for.
Angelo Henriquez has turned out to be the signing of the season for Dinamo. The Manchester United loanee found the back of the net for the third time in only his fourth appearance for the club. He scored today only three minutes after entering the match.
Entering the game in the 65th minute, Henriquez found himself one on one with the goalkeeper at close range. Henriquez took advantage of his position and firmly struck the ball passed the goalkeeper, who had no chance of making the save.
All the goals
Dinamo’s newest youngster, Ante Ćorić scored his first goal on the European stage.
The 17-year-old scored in the 92nd minute to put the Modri up 5-1 at Maksimir Stadium.
Dinamo still have their work cut out for them in Group B. Their next match will take place in Glasgow, Scotland on Oct. 2 to face Celtic. Celtic drew against Red Bull Salzburg 2-2 , leaving them with one point each.
HNK Rijeka did not fare so well in their opening match of the group stages.
Rijkea, who are in a group with Standard Liga, Sevilla, and Feyenoord, faced the Belgium second-runners up, Standard Liga today in Belgium and found themselves on the wrong side of a 2-0 scoreline.
The Croatian club was not without their chances to win. Ivan Krstanović was presented with an opportunity from inside the penalty area, but sent the ball over the bar with a poor shot.
Andrej Kramarić also had a golden opportunity to tap in a loose ball in the box, but failed to convert the chance.
The stars just weren’t aligned for Rijeka today. Their defense had just as many unnecessary lapses in concentration as their offense did today, and were unable to keep the Belgian offense from scoring.
Rijeka will next welcome La Liga’s FC Sevilla to Kantrida on Oct. 2, but it will not be easy as Sevilla has had a good start to their La Liga campaign so far this season and sit in third place behind Barcelona and Valencia.
The next league match for Rijeka will be an important league match against Dinamo Zagreb at Kantrida. Rijeka has been victorious in the last three matches against Dinamo and are looking to extend their streak.
How could Poljud host the games with all those drainage issues?
Remember a few years ago when Puppet Suker said his connections with Platini would pay off for Euro 2020……yeah, that was funny.
Then you had the city of Split wanting to host some games, but they didn’t get the backing of the savez when they reached out to UEFA. Comical, but typical for cro.
Mateo was injured…you guys should read the news!
Somebody got PAID
Wembley to stage UEFA EURO 2020 final
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/newsid=2151146.html#wembley+stage+uefa+euro+2020+final
Azerbaijan/Baku – three group games, one quarter-final..Wow, they must have a nice stadium to host that many games. The stadium they played in versus Bulgaria a week ago didn’t look that great.
Makes you wonder if we would have had a half decent stadium, we could have gotten something done. Then again, we have a bunch of cement heads running the show.
Thanks Bobby!
Osim što su dva hrvatska kluba, Dinamo i Rijeka, jučer igrala u Europskoj ligi, u akciji su bila još devetorica naših igrača:
Ivan Strinić – na terenu 90 minuta u domaćem porazu Dnjipra 1:0 od Intera. U 52. minuti dobio žuti karton.
Nikola Kalinić – igrao od 79. minuti u porazu Dnjipra 1:0 od Intera.
…Gordon Schildenfeld – igrao cijelu utakmicu za Panathinaikos u domaćem porazu od moskovskog Dinama 2:1
Danijel Pranjić – igrao do 80. minuti za Panathianikos u porazu od Dinama 2:1
Mladen Petrić – ušao u 75. za Panathinaikos
Ivica Olić – odigrao 90 minuta u porazu Wolfsburga 4:1 kod Evertona.
Milan Badelj – debitirao za Fiorentinu u domaćoj pobjedi 3:0 protiv Guingampa. U igru ušao na početku drugog dijela.
Ivica Vrdoljak – kapetan u pobjedi Legije 1:0 protiv Lokerena.
“Ziva Istina says:
because europa league is meaningless. second tier event”
What’s this?
Is Živa actually kinda indirectly complimenting one of our own players, by saying that a Europa game is not worth playing Mateo over?
Must be a false poster.
http://www.thesefootballtimes.net/#!the-sorry-affairs-of-dinamo-zagreb/c1j1d
some of us have been saying this for years. even the puppet reference was used for Suker. it’s almost as if a certain someone was in their ear.
because europa league is meaningless. second tier event.
How come Kovacic didn’t play today?
No Mateo no Inter flow .
He is the majstor that stirs the drink for Inter.
He is the most important player on the pitch.
Create a role for this young stud to provide the explosiveness in the attacking third that we have not had in 15 years.
excellent game from dinamo and thank you for posting it
Rijeka deserved much more. It should have been 1-1 in the 83th minute. That was not offside at all!