NK Varaždin were defeated 3:1 away by Dinamo Zagreb. The match, part of the 4th round of the Croatian First League, was played on Saturday at the Maksimir Stadium, with the hosts maintaining control from the early stages according to data from Flashscore.
Fran Brodić scored Varaždin's only goal in the 75th minute to make it 3:1. This was his first goal of the season. Dinamo led 2:0 at halftime and added a third goal in the second period. Varaždin manager Igor Angelovski said after the match: "Dinamo were better, we have to learn from this."
How the match started
Dinamo took control quickly and scored the opening goal in the early minutes. Varaždin struggled to create dangerous chances in the first half. The defence was under constant pressure, leading to a second goal for the hosts before the break. The team entered the second half with a completely different attitude and showed more fight.
What the second half brought
Although Dinamo extended their lead to 3:0, Varaždin showed character. In the 75th minute, Fran Brodić took his chance and scored for 3:1, giving the team hope for the finale. The side continued to press and created several more situations but without adding another goal. This period demonstrated that the team does not give up even with a large deficit.
Where Varaždin stand in the table
With this defeat, Varaždin remain in the lower part of the standings. After four matches played, the team has only one point. The next challenge is a home match against Rijeka, which will be important for boosting confidence. The full schedule of matches can be followed on our fixtures page.
Who was missing from the squad
Manager Angelovski could not count on several key players due to injuries. Among them is experienced defender Marko Stolnik, whose absence was felt in the defensive line. Injuries forced the manager to make changes to the lineup, affecting the team's stability. The current list of all players and their status is available in the squad section.
The match against Rijeka is scheduled for next weekend at the Varteks Stadium. It will be an opportunity for Varaždin to break their winless run and earn points in front of their home fans.
