Salzburg send Dinamo packing
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Article summary
NK Dinamo Zagreb 1-2 FC Salzburg (agg: 2-3)
Robin Nelisse's 83rd-minute strike took the Austrian titleholders into the play-off round on a disappointing night for hosts Dinamo.
Article top media content
Article body
Robin Nelisse struck seven minutes from time to earn FC Salzburg a 2-1 victory at NK Dinamo Zagreb and send the Austrian titleholders into the UEFA Champions League play-off round.
Turned in rebound
After last week's 1-1 first-leg draw in Salzburg, extra time looked imminent with the teams tied 1-1 once more. However, Nelisse, the Netherlands Antilles striker, had other ideas and when substitute Simon Cziommer's shot struck the post, he was on hand to turn in the rebound from ten metres.
Worthy winners
Huub Stevens' visitors were worthy winners and had earlier taken a half-time lead through Dušan Švento's 33rd-minute free-kick. Whether Švento was going for goal is open to debate as he sent a high delivery in from out on the right side, but the ball evaded everybody, goalkeeper Tomislav Butina included, and found its way into the back of the net.
Missed their cue
Dinamo's best moment of the first period was a Carlos header ruled out for offside from Pedro Morales's free-kick but Krunoslav Jurcić's men stepped up a gear at the start of the second half, drawing level almost at once. Morales capped an eye-catching dribble with a neat pass to Dimitris Papadopoulos and the Greek striker made no mistake. If that was Dinamo's cue to go on and grab the game by the scruff of the net, they evidently missed it for Salzburg got stronger as the match progressed and earned their reward through Nelisse's late intervention.