Dinamo claim Croatian Cup
Wednesday, May 1, 2002
Article summary
NK Dinamo Zagreb clinched the Croatian Cup with a 2-1 aggregate victory over NK Varteks.
Article body
NK Dinamo Zagreb clinched the Croatian Cup for the second season in succession after today's 1-0 second-leg win over NK Varteks gave them a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Leko the hero
Jerko Leko scored the only goal of a tense match after 32 minutes to secure another success. It is the sixth time the club have won their country's premier knockout competition after triumphs in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2001.
'A great ending'
Dinamo will take part in next season's UEFA Cup third qualifying round as a result of their victory. Dinamo coach Marijan Vlak described the win as "a great ending to the season". "We played superbly in the first half and we should have scored more," Vlak added. "Luckily for us Varteks did not score in the last 15 minutes when they put a lot of pressure on our defence."
Sombre mood
His opposite number, Branko Janzek, was naturally in a sombre mood. "I am disappointed because we were so much looking forward to the trophy, but my players were not up to the task," said the Varteks coach. "However, it is no surprise Dinamo won, they have been better than us over the years, and they were better today."
