GNK Dinamo Zagreb secured a key Europa League victory with a 96th-minute penalty against Anderlecht. Dion Drena Beljo converted the spot-kick for a 1-0 win, delivering the club's first three points in this season's competition.
This win provides a significant boost following a draw with Hapoel in the first round and a league defeat to Hajduk Split last weekend. Dinamo currently sits third in the domestic HNL with 16 points from eight games, and Beljo, with his tenth goal in seven appearances this season, confirmed his status as the main attacking threat.
A Hard-Fought Reward
The match was extremely tight and full of missed chances. Dinamo had the first major opportunity in the 15th minute when Luka Stojković failed to score. Anderlecht responded with two shots hitting the crossbar in the 21st minute, with goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski making one of his several important saves. Tristan Degreef also tested Kotarski in the 28th minute, while Iker Almena missed the target just before halftime.
The second half yielded no goals until the very end, despite both teams creating chances. Dinamo had a good counter-attack finished unsuccessfully by Kačavenda and Beljo, and Anderlecht continued with long-range efforts. The decisive moment came in added time when the ball struck the hand of Dani Rodriguez in his own box. After a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty to Dinamo.
"Beljo scores from the penalty at the very end of the match. Dinamo has won!" said goalscorer Dion Drena Beljo after the game. Coach Sergej Jakirović added that the win was deserved and a result of the team fighting until the final whistle. Anderlecht coach Brian Riemer expressed disappointment with the manner of the defeat, noting his team had dominated possession.
What the Win Means
These three points lift Dinamo to 14th place in the Europa League league phase, with six matches still to play. For Anderlecht, this is their second loss in the competition. For Dinamo, this marks a third win in their last five matches across all competitions, indicating solid form. In Europa League Group B, Dinamo now has four points, while Anderlecht remains on zero.
The next challenge awaits them on Wednesday away to Slaven Belupo in the HNL. Dinamo will aim to use this momentum and continue with good results to close the three-point gap to leaders Hajduk Split. Following that, a Europa League away match against Sporting Lisbon awaits.
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