Dinamo Zagreb 0 - 2 Tromsø
Zagreb bow out to top seeds
Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia
Cup - Dinamo Zagreb went down bravely to top seeds Tromsø in the cup yesterday. The result was expected but Tromsø manager Daniel Myrberg looked to be taking no chances, fielding a star-studded lineup that should have more than swept the home side away. However, a second-string Zagreb side played their hearts out for 90 minutes, and left the pitch with heads held high.
Tromsø fielded a squad with 9 players with wages higher than 80K. Morten Olsen with 75K and young Karim Essediri with 52K were the only exceptions. Zagreb were playing a 3-5-2 formation, with the team being led ably by team captain and vice-captain Ivo Rados and Luis González. The young backline was at no time during the match overwhelmed as they seemed to hold their own against the opposition.
"They are sensible lads. I was a bit afraid that they would be overawed by the occasion, but I decided it was more than time to let them have a taste of the big match," Manager Jatex Cole later commented on his decision to field youngsters in the team.
The match had only been on for 8 minutes when a delightful cross by Tromsø sweeper Alain Roche evaded the heads of the Zagreb defenders and Karim Essediri was on hand to smash the ball pass Sasha Sabick in goal. It was 1-0 and it looked like things were going to go very smoothly for Tromsø. But it wasn't until the 40th minute when a wild clearance by Christian Oetling was intercepted by Morten Olsen was the score increased. The Dane took one glance and curled the ball into the far left corner of the net. Tromsø defender Grégory Verhoeven was then booked for taunting the home fans after the goal. Zagreb held on till the break, but it looked like it was going to get worse before long.
However, after the break, Rados and striker Lee Song seemed to have taken it to their heads that they had to lead by example, tracking back deep into defence at times to help clear the ball. Even though Tromsø held the final possession rate at 59%, the Zagreb defence was not breached for the rest of the half, and the Zagreb players left the by-now muddy pitch to a standing ovation.
Tromsø manager Daniel Myrberg was not available for comment as he was quickly ushered into his private helicopter after the match.
Team Lineups
Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia
Cup - Dinamo Zagreb went down bravely to top seeds Tromsø in the cup yesterday. The result was expected but Tromsø manager Daniel Myrberg looked to be taking no chances, fielding a star-studded lineup that should have more than swept the home side away. However, a second-string Zagreb side played their hearts out for 90 minutes, and left the pitch with heads held high.
Tromsø fielded a squad with 9 players with wages higher than 80K. Morten Olsen with 75K and young Karim Essediri with 52K were the only exceptions. Zagreb were playing a 3-5-2 formation, with the team being led ably by team captain and vice-captain Ivo Rados and Luis González. The young backline was at no time during the match overwhelmed as they seemed to hold their own against the opposition.
"They are sensible lads. I was a bit afraid that they would be overawed by the occasion, but I decided it was more than time to let them have a taste of the big match," Manager Jatex Cole later commented on his decision to field youngsters in the team.
The match had only been on for 8 minutes when a delightful cross by Tromsø sweeper Alain Roche evaded the heads of the Zagreb defenders and Karim Essediri was on hand to smash the ball pass Sasha Sabick in goal. It was 1-0 and it looked like things were going to go very smoothly for Tromsø. But it wasn't until the 40th minute when a wild clearance by Christian Oetling was intercepted by Morten Olsen was the score increased. The Dane took one glance and curled the ball into the far left corner of the net. Tromsø defender Grégory Verhoeven was then booked for taunting the home fans after the goal. Zagreb held on till the break, but it looked like it was going to get worse before long.
However, after the break, Rados and striker Lee Song seemed to have taken it to their heads that they had to lead by example, tracking back deep into defence at times to help clear the ball. Even though Tromsø held the final possession rate at 59%, the Zagreb defence was not breached for the rest of the half, and the Zagreb players left the by-now muddy pitch to a standing ovation.
Tromsø manager Daniel Myrberg was not available for comment as he was quickly ushered into his private helicopter after the match.
Team Lineups
posted by Jatex at 11:23 AM
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