Salzburg creates a good starting position with 1-0 over Zagreb
After two 1-1 draws against Milan and Chelsea, the home side lived up to their status as favorites and thus also took revenge for the bitter defeat against Dinamo in the 2016 CL play-off. Salzburg has 5 points after three games, Milan and Chelsea each have 4 , Zagreb at 3. At least third place and thus the international wintering is within reach. As early as next Tuesday, Salzburg could set the course in this regard during their guest appearance in Zagreb.
Jaissle set up as expected with one exception, but preferred Strahinja Pavlovic to Maximilian Wöber in central defence. “One of the hardest decisions of my coaching career,” said the German to “Sky”. Dinamo coach Ante Cacic did not come up with any surprises, ex-Rapidler Robert Ljubicic went to work on the left side of the five-man chain, ex-Austrian Emir Dilaver sat on the bench.
The game also had few unforeseen events up its sleeve in front of a full house (28,864). Salzburg determined the game and looked for chances against the deep guests. However, most of the fortune and precision in the game is missing. After Maurits Kjaergaard’s first long-range shot in the middle of goalie Dominik Livakovic (2′), Dinamo wobbled for the first time when Benjamin Sesko headed wide of the goal (16′). Just a minute later, Livakovic had to parry Luka Sucic from a tight angle, and Okafor hit the side netting (17′). There were also two blocked shots by Andreas Ulmer (23′), a ball that Nicolas Capaldo narrowly missed in a five-pointer (24′) and a Livakovic fist defense from a dangerous cross (41′).
Dinamo rarely got the transition moments they had hoped for, Salzburg goalie Philipp Köhn was able to excel twice: with an only moderately successful shot by Luka Ivanusec (13th), but above all with a nice save from a long-range shot by Josip Misic just under the bar ( 8th.). Of course, Dinamo did not freeze in complete harmlessness, probably justifying the assessment of Salzburg sports director Christoph Freund (“A disgusting opponent”). Towards the end of the first half, the Croatians recorded a happy ending for Salzburg in the penalty area (30′) and Arijan Ademis’ header next to the goal (36′).
In the first few minutes of the second half, Salzburg put more pressure on them and got down to business more energetically and purposefully. That would have been rewarded quickly in the 55th minute when Sesko headed in from close range, but aimed directly at Livakovic (55th). A little over ten minutes later, however, the time had come: Sadegh Moharrami brought Ulmer down in the penalty area, and Okafor converted the penalty effortlessly – the Swiss player’s third goal in the third CL game of the season.
The game was over, even if the guests threw everything forward and found a big chance: In one of the rare offensive actions, Dinamo “Joker” Josip Drmic had the 1: 1 at the foot, but failed once again at the well-disposed Köhn (82. ). In injury time, the unchallenged Sesko was once again at a disadvantage against Livakovic. That would have paid off quickly: Ademi’s supposed 1-1 lead was correctly not recognized because it was offside (95′).