Dinamo Zagreb reaches last 16 of UEFA Europa League after second-leg victory
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
21 February 2019 – Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb have advanced through to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday after turning around a first-leg deficit against FC Viktoria Plzeň.
Dinamo Zagreb trailed 2-1 after the first leg of their Europa League Round of 32 clash in Plzeň but turned it all around with a 3-0 victory in front of 30,000 fans at Maksimir stadium in Zagreb tonight.
As they did in the first leg, Dinamo started the match strong and looked to attack early. The first good opportunity for Dinamo Zagreb came in the 5th minute when Marin Leovac pulled the ball back across the box to Dani Olmo, but his shot was blocked in the area.
Dinamo took the lead in the 15th minute when Mislav Oršić fired home after a nice backheel from Bruno Petković.
Defender Emir Dilaver would then double the lead for the Croatians in the 34th minute when he flicked the ball past the Plzeň keeper after being left completely unmarked when a free-kick was swung in.
Perković put the tie out of reach for the Czech club when he found the back of the net in the 73rd minute to make it 3-0 and 4-2 on aggregate.
The last time Dinamo Zagreb has got further in European competitions was back in 1970 when they reached the quarterfinals of the Cup Winners’ Cup.
Dinamo Zagreb will learn who they will play for a place in the quarter-finals when the draw for the last 16 is made on Friday, 22 February.
