Croatia round-up: Zagreb storm to victory

NK Zagreb continued their march to the Prva HNL title with a 6-1 win away against one-time challengers NK Osijek on Saturday.

Overwhelming performance
The runaway league leaders utterly overwhelmed their hosts after being held at bay for most of the first half. Vedran Jese eventually opened the scoring for the visitors after 34 minutes to open the floodgates in Osijek. Former Osijek striker Petar Krpan added a second within a minute and by half-time it was 3-0 with Croatia's top scorer Ivica Olic adding another goal to his season's taly.

Late goals
Krpan added a second goal after 68 minutes, and Osijek pulled one back from the penalty spot after 85 minutes and looked to be prepared to accept a 4-1 defeat until a late burst by their visitors completed the rout. With time ticking down, both Admir Hasancic and Mario Osibov got on to the score-sheet to complete the rout.

Hajduk held
Second-placed NK Hajduk Split failed to keep pace with the leaders as they drew 0-0 away against NK Marsonia, but NK Dinamo Zagreb confirmed that they are battling for a place in Europe next season with an emphatic 4-1 win against NK Pomorac as they continued their rise up the table. Penalties in each half from Dario Smoje and Jasmin Agic and further strikes from Enes Mesanovic and Ante Tomic sealed the points.

Crnak strikes in Koprivnica
In the weekend's other games, a single goal from Tomislav Kralj five minutes from time was enough to give NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac all three points against NK Zadakomerc, while Pavo Crnak's strike proved to be the only goal in Koprivnica as NK Slaven Belupo won 1-0 against TŠK Topolovac.  In Saturday's other games, NK Cakovec won 2-0 against HNK Šibenik, while a Josko Popovic equaliser after 87 minutes gave NK Papuk Kamen Ingrad Venika a point against HNK Cibalia who scored after three minutes through Mladen Bartolovic.