Croatia: Zagreb strengthen title hopes

NK Zagreb beat NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac 1-0 on Saturday to record their 12th win in 16 games and strengthen their position at the top of the Croatian Prva HNL.

Decisive goal
Hrvoje Strok netted the decisive goal in the 36th minute to clinch a valuable three points for Zagreb in a hard-fought encounter against a resilient Dragovoljac side. Zagreb are now seven points clear of NK Varteks, who play their game in hand at NK Papuk Kamen Ingrad Venika on Sunday.

Late fightback
NK Dinamo Zagreb held off a late fightback to beat TŠK Topolovac 3-2 at the Maksimir stadium. Igor Cvitanovic struck either side of Goce Sedloski's goal to put Dinamo three goals to the good inside 31 minutes. Topolovak replied through Tin Lovrekovic and Drazen Bobinec in the final 20 minutes but it was too little, too late for the visitors.

Cakovec win
NK Cakovec beat NK Marsonia 3-1 after also going three goals ahead. Velibor Vujic opened the scoring in the 26th minute and he netted again eight minutes after half-time. Jurica Karabatic put them further in front five minutes later before Josip Markovinovic hit a 72nd-minute consolation for Marsonia.

Ferencina rescues Slaven
In Saturday's other game, NK Slaven Belupo needed Roy Ferencina's 72nd-minute strike to salvage a 2-2 draw against HNK Rijeka. Slaven went ahead through Miljenko Kovacic in the 37th minute but Mate Brajkovic and Natko Racki scored after the break to give Rijeka the lead before Ferencina's late intervention.