GNK Dinamo Zagreb secured their place in the last 16 of the Croatian Cup with a convincing 4-0 victory over fifth-tier side Bedem from Ivankovo. Manager Mario Kovačević's team won the match played this week, with Luka Ivanušec and Smail Prevljak each scoring twice. Dinamo currently sits second in the HNL standings with 13 points from five matches.
Dinamo took control of the match in Ivankovo from the first minute. Smail Prevljak opened the scoring in the 16th minute following a good move from a free kick. Five minutes later, Luka Ivanušec doubled the lead to 2-0 with a headed goal from an Iker Almena assist. In the second half, Ivanušec scored another goal, this time from outside the box, while Prevljak netted the fourth in the 87th minute. The assist for the final goal was provided by youngster Kalojan Božkov.
Manager Mario Kovačević completely rotated his lineup compared to league matches, giving opportunities to players with less game time. Iker Almena and Noah Nsoki made their debuts in the starting eleven, while Fuzy Taylor, Gabriel Šivalec, and Jona Benkotić also got minutes. Dinamo will face second-division side Vukovar 1991 in the Cup quarter-finals, who defeated Cibalija.
After the match, the Dinamo manager praised the atmosphere and his team's performance. "It was a real football celebration, I'm glad to see so much love for Dinamo in Slavonia," Kovačević told 24sata Sport. He emphasized that the goal was to give a chance to players who had previously had fewer minutes and to younger players so they could integrate as soon as possible.
Kovačević specifically commented on the condition of Luka Ivanušec, who was captain and a double goalscorer. "We have two more training sessions, but he will certainly play there, we'll see if he starts or comes on." the manager stated. Dinamo already travels to face Osijek in the HNL on Friday, and all details of the upcoming schedule can be found on our fixtures page.
The Cup match was an ideal opportunity to test young talent. Besides Kalojan Božkov, Fuzy Taylor, and Gabriel Šivalec coming off the bench, Noah Nsoki also started the game. Kovačević saw many good things in their performance. Such opportunities are key for the development of players fighting for a place in the first team, and the full squad list is available on the squad page.
Dinamo has scored 12 goals in the league season so far, conceding only three, resulting in a +9 goal difference. The team's next challenge is an away match against NK Osijek on September 12, 2026.
