Dinamo Zagreb 0 - 0 F.C Skonto Riga
Croatian team post dour draw in absence of captain
Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia
Division 3C - An in form F.C Skonto Riga pulled off an upset of sorts as they held league leaders Dinamo Zagreb to a draw at Maksimir. Zagreb held on to register their fifth shut-out of the season, but the lack of goals only served to highlight their toothless attack in front of goal. This season has seen Zagreb only scoring on four occasions in the league, with all of them coming in their first three games.
While this preserved Zagreb's unbeaten run in Division 3C so far, Zagreb manager Jatex Cole was far from pleased with his side's performance. Zagreb has stuttered of late, also being held to a goaless draw in it's previous match. It certainly looks as if the early-season momentum has slowed down, and if Cole doesn't ring in the changes fast, it is believed that this may be yet another fruitless season for the Croatian club.
Zagreb had lost much of their attacking thrust due to the absence of it's skipper Ivo Rados, who missed the game through suspension. Rados had been sent off in the previous match against Malmo after a second bookable offence and had to put up with watching the match from the stands. However, such was the poor display of his forwards, that Cole was later said to be considering recalling out-of-favour Chinese striker Lee Song to the first team squad to boost the attack.
The match started promisingly in a light drizzle, with the home side having most of the possession. Luis González, the stand in captain, was acquiting himself well, but nobody else seemed to be doing anything much. Skonto Riga looked to be happy with sitting deep in their own half and absorbing the Zagreb attacks. Huo Zhiyu had his first league start of the season in place of Rados, after a fine two-goal showing against Rio Ave in the Cup, but failed to produce anything other than what was expected of him.
Zagreb goalie Sasha Sabick was largely untroubled, plucking a few stray crosses from the air, and once coming out smartly to save at the feet of opposition striker Arve Walde.
Two Skonto players were booked early on in quick succession as a dangerous two-footed tackle by Kaya Mehmet on Thomas Winklhofer was not missed by the referee. He had no choice but to flash the yellow card as the Skonto players gathered around him. Skonto keeper Dave Bult was then shown another yellow for excessive protesting when he was allegedly seen pointing a middle finger and gesticulating at the referee.
None of the Skonto players really excelled that night, and it was more down to Zagreb's woeful finishing that the night ended scoreless for both teams. Juan Manuel Gutiérrez de Cos had a good outing for Zagreb, but González was to take the post-match plaudits for his performance on the night.
Skonto Riga manager Paul Melamed was not available for comment after the match, but he was reportedly pleased with the result that put a solid three points in between his club and the relegation zone.
Team Lineups
Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia
Division 3C - An in form F.C Skonto Riga pulled off an upset of sorts as they held league leaders Dinamo Zagreb to a draw at Maksimir. Zagreb held on to register their fifth shut-out of the season, but the lack of goals only served to highlight their toothless attack in front of goal. This season has seen Zagreb only scoring on four occasions in the league, with all of them coming in their first three games.
While this preserved Zagreb's unbeaten run in Division 3C so far, Zagreb manager Jatex Cole was far from pleased with his side's performance. Zagreb has stuttered of late, also being held to a goaless draw in it's previous match. It certainly looks as if the early-season momentum has slowed down, and if Cole doesn't ring in the changes fast, it is believed that this may be yet another fruitless season for the Croatian club.
Zagreb had lost much of their attacking thrust due to the absence of it's skipper Ivo Rados, who missed the game through suspension. Rados had been sent off in the previous match against Malmo after a second bookable offence and had to put up with watching the match from the stands. However, such was the poor display of his forwards, that Cole was later said to be considering recalling out-of-favour Chinese striker Lee Song to the first team squad to boost the attack.
The match started promisingly in a light drizzle, with the home side having most of the possession. Luis González, the stand in captain, was acquiting himself well, but nobody else seemed to be doing anything much. Skonto Riga looked to be happy with sitting deep in their own half and absorbing the Zagreb attacks. Huo Zhiyu had his first league start of the season in place of Rados, after a fine two-goal showing against Rio Ave in the Cup, but failed to produce anything other than what was expected of him.
Zagreb goalie Sasha Sabick was largely untroubled, plucking a few stray crosses from the air, and once coming out smartly to save at the feet of opposition striker Arve Walde.
Two Skonto players were booked early on in quick succession as a dangerous two-footed tackle by Kaya Mehmet on Thomas Winklhofer was not missed by the referee. He had no choice but to flash the yellow card as the Skonto players gathered around him. Skonto keeper Dave Bult was then shown another yellow for excessive protesting when he was allegedly seen pointing a middle finger and gesticulating at the referee.
None of the Skonto players really excelled that night, and it was more down to Zagreb's woeful finishing that the night ended scoreless for both teams. Juan Manuel Gutiérrez de Cos had a good outing for Zagreb, but González was to take the post-match plaudits for his performance on the night.
Skonto Riga manager Paul Melamed was not available for comment after the match, but he was reportedly pleased with the result that put a solid three points in between his club and the relegation zone.
Team Lineups
posted by Jatex at 2:13 PM
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