Dinamo got a great result in the first Croatian Cup semi-final game
Bad form of Hajduk’s team was the reason for one of the lowest attendances ever when it comes to matches between this two teams in Split since just 13K spectators attended the game on March 16, 2016. Dinamo got an easy win, much easier than expected.
Dinamo was much better, they prepared the game quietly, with its officials talking about everything but the game itself, seems like they have lifted the pressure off the players, so they were focused and played a perfect first half of the game. Hajduk’s goalkeeper, Lovre Kalinić, was the only reason Hajduk was not heavily humiliated in the first 45 minutes of the game.
Dinamo then started thinking about the next game, which will be played again against Hajduk in just four days, and lowered the pace in the second half. Even then, Hajduk was lacking the power to turn things around. The worst news for the guests happened when Marko Pjaca, Dinamo’s young star, suffered a shoulder injury, and it is expected to keep him off the pitch for at least four to six weeks.
Hajduk was simply not good enough, but what is to worry its fans is the team was not even trying too hard. As the match finished, Torcida did not salute the players, not even a whistle was blown in their direction, fans just stayed quiet and left the stadium. It is felt that in the “socios” model, everybody is doing their job, but the players simply do not seem to have that feeling of what Hajduk is supposed to be.
When comparing this game with the other three played this season between two teams, it was obvious that Hajduk has lost too much with some of its best players leaving the club. The biggest change has occurred in the midfield, with Mijo Caktaš dominating there in first three games both by his defensive energy and attacking skills.
As mentioned, Hajduk and Dinamo will play again on Sunday at the same venue and it is to be a somewhat different game, as Hajduk has no real pressure there, while Dinamo needs a win to keep Rijeka as far as possible on the league table.
