Dinamo and Hajduk opened the new season of Croatian football, fighting for the first trophy of the season – the SuperSport Superkup.
Around two and a half thousand Hajduk fans visited Maksimir for the first derby of the season, many of them on the ‘Bili Vlak’, or organized train transport that left this morning from Split. Around 17,000 spectators were expected at the match in total.
Dinamo was said to have a slight advantage tonight playing at home, though we must remember that last season, Hajduk beat Dinamo twice, one match ended in a draw, while Dinamo celebrated in the last derby of the season.
Dinamo has won six Superkups, Hajduk is close behind with five, while Rijeka has one. However, from 1995 to 2001, the Superkup was not played because Dinamo won the championship and the Cup, for the same reasons it was not played in 2008 and 2009, 2011 and 2012, as well as from 2015 to 2018, when they dominated again.
Lineups
Dinamo (4-3-3): Livaković – Moharrami, Lauritsen, Perić, Ljubičić – Ademi, Mišić, Ivanušec – Špikić, Petković, Drmić
Hajduk (4-3-3): L. Kalinić – Mikanović, Borevković, Simić, Melnjak – Vuković, Grgić, Krovinović – Livaja, N. Kalinić, Biuk
Match Report
Dinamo was more offensive in the first 5 minutes of the match before Livaja, Biuk, and Kalinić picked things up for Hajduk in the next few attacks. The closest call of the match so far was in the 10th minute when Livaja hit the net near post.
Petković was dangerous for Dinamo in the 22nd minute with a brilliant Lovre Kalinić save for Hajduk to keep it 0:0. Mikanović hit the crossbar for Hajduk in the 30th minute.
Petković took a dangerous free kick in the 37th minute which was shot over the goal. The first half ended 0:0.
Hajduk was the first to be dangerous in the second half. Livaja shot powerfully from 18 meters but it went far to the right post. A minute later, Ademi shot from the edge of the penalty area which Kalinić deflected into the corner. Two minutes later, Ivanušec shot over the goal.
Biuk went up the right wing and tangled with Moharrami. Hajduk looked for a penalty, but the referee remained silent.
Biuk came off for Sahiti in the 58th minute. Kalinić continued to be outstanding in goal, with another superman save to keep Dinamo from scoring. What a match so far.
Livaja had a chance in front of Dinamo’s goal in the 62nd minute which Lauritsen managed to clear. Drmić missed directly in front of Hajduk’s goal in the 66th minute.
Kalinić was having the match of his life – saving yet another close call from Dinamo a minute later. Nikola Kalinić came out for Mlakar in the 70th minute.
Ademi was dangerous dribbling into the penalty area which Kalinić ultimately stopped. Ademi was subbed off for Baturina in the 77th minute.
A Dinamo corner in the 82nd minute put Kalinić to work again and Sipic headed towards the goal. It was 0:0 with 5 minutes left.
Livaja shot near post in the 84th minute before Dinamo attacked again. Menalo was subbed on for Spikic in the 87th minute.
Orsic was one-on-one with Kalinić which he too managed to save. It was 0:0 in the 90th minute with four minutes of stoppage time added before penalties would decide the winner.
Penalties
Bruno Petković was up first to score for Dinamo – 1:0.
Livaja scored for Hajduk – 1:1.
Orsic scored for Dinamo – 2:1.
Mlakar shanked over the goal to keep Dinamo ahead 2:1.
Ljubicic scored for Dinamo – 3:1.
Vukovic’s penalty was saved by Livakovic for 3:1.
Ivanusec scored for Dinamo (4:1) and the SuperSport Superkup title in 2022.
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