“Financial Blow” as Dinamo Zagreb Dramatically Miss Out on Champions League

Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb have missed out on a 8.5 million euro pay-day after losing their UEFA Champions League play-off against Austria Vienna in dramatic style in Vienna last night.

Down 2:0 on aggregate from the fist leg in Zagreb, Dinamo Zagreb needed a miracle after conceding an early goal to go 3:0 down. Playing some of their best football of the season, Dinamo turned the tie on its head and in the 70th minute were in the Champions League after substitute striker Fatos Beciraj header home to give the Zagreb side a 3:1 lead on the night and ahead on the away goal rule. Dinamo’s joy only lasted 10 minutes before Austria Vienna, who were completely outplayed, scored a goal against the run of play and securing themselves their first ever appearance in the Champions League.

“This is a huge economic blow. We lost out on the Champions League in Zagreb. When you score three goals, and do not go through then it makes you cry. Although we deserved to go through in all aspects, and we were better in 3 out of the 4 halfs, in Zagreb we compromised it all,” said a visibly upset Dinamo Zagreb Chairmen Zdravko Mamić after the dramatic match.

Dinamo Zagreb captain Joe Šimunić was not holding back after the match. “Well done to all my team-mates. I have to say this, and they can fine me, Austria’s best player today was the referee. He didn’t give a penalty to us for handball in the box in the first half or a foul on our player for their second goal. Shame…shame for Dinamo, for our fans and the whole city because tonight we showed we were the better team. Nevertheless, it’s not always the best team that goes through,” said Šimunić. Dinamo will now enter the UEFA Europa League. (foto: gnkdinamo)