Champions League Playoff: Uphill battle for Dinamo Zagreb after first leg loss to Sheriff Tiraspol
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Bruno Petković (Screenshot/YouTube)
Dinamo Zagreb will need a miracle next week if they are to advance through to the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.
Dinamo Zagreb has gone down 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff against Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova on Wednesday night.
The home side were dominant in Tiraspol and thoroughly deserved their victory. The 3-0 deficit means Dinamo will have score at least three goals in the second leg.
Dinamo almost went ahead in the 34th minute when Lovro Majer steered the ball towards the open goal but Sheriff defender Cristiano clear the ball off the line just in time.
The home side would deservedly go ahead on the stroke of halftime when Cristiano found Traore who rifled the ball in the far corner of Dominik Livaković’s net.
Sheriff would go ahead 2-0 in the 54th minute when Kolovos found the back of the net with a masterful volley from inside the box which left Livaković with no chance.
With 10 minutes remaining, Traore got his second to make it 3-0 to leave Dinamo needing a miracle to pull it back.
The second leg will be played next Wednesday on 25 August at Zagreb’s Maksimir stadium. If Dinamo is unable to win the tie, they will join the Europa League group stages.
