Croatia round-up: Dinamo maintain four-point gap

NK Dinamo Zagreb remained four points clear at the top of the Prva Hrvatska Nogometna Liga table with a 3-1 win against HNK Šibenik.

Long-awaited breakthrough
Despite the comfortable margin of victory, it took until the 68th minute for the first goal to arrive, before Dario Smoje shot into the net to put the leaders in front and Dario Zahora extended the lead two minutes later. Zahora scored again in stoppage time, but there was still time for Klausio Vukovic to score a consolation.

Hajduk stay second
Second-placed HNK Hajduk Split secured a 2-0 victory at home to NK Osijek, with Petar Krpan opening the scoring five minutes before half-time. The visitors then lost Tomislav Mijkovic to a red card after 47 minutes, and Hajduk took full advantage, sealing all three points two minutes later through Dzevad Turkovic.

Varteks slip back
Third-placed NK Varteks lost ground on the top two as they slipped to a surprise 1-0 defeat at NK Pomorac, who moved off the bottom of the table thanks to Ivica Karabogdan’s powerful finish after 47 minutes.

Slaven success
Meanwhile, NK Slaven Belupo were 2-0 winners against HNK Rijeka thanks to goals from Dalibor Božac and Petar Bošnjak, while NK Zadarkomerc defeated NK Zagreb 2-1 and HNK Cibalia played out a 1-1 draw at home to NK Kamen Ingrad Velika.