A potentially valuable point

Thu 25 Nov 2021, 18:45

Dinamo Zagreb 1 1 KRC Genk

It was pretty good weather for football in Zagreb: one degree or so, dry, calm and a very decent pitch. Dinamo were urged on by six to seven thousand spectators, and there were some four hundred Genk fans who had travelled to support the team. Coach John van den Brom had made four changes to his eleven from the weekend: McKenzie, Eiting, Bongonda and Ugbo were all in the starting lineup at kick-off.

After seven minutes, Théo Bongonda had a decent effort, making a good run before creating a half chance from Ito's cross. The second attempt on goal was also Genk’s: Heynen had a header from a corner, although it would deflect off the ground and then a home defender, resulting in a corner once more; we were well in control. Dinamo threatened through Orsic at times, but we were gaining more and more control. Then, suddenly, a very long ball was dropped in over the top of our defence, which was misjudged and gave Menalo an easy opportunity to make it 1-0. Moments later, Preciado would do well to keep the deficit at that, denying Orsic on the break. We lost our rhythm for a time, but on the stroke of half-time we would score from a corner. Ugbo hit a shot on the turn, and despite having a man marking him, he fired the ball into the roof of the net, making it 1-1. For the newly-minted Canadian, it was already his fifth goal of the season across all competitions.

Just fifteen minutes into the second half, Ito was off on the counter, but he couldn't turn his opponent completely, and his shot was partly blocked. At the other end, Vandevoordt had to be attentive to keep out a few shots, but overall Dinamo didn't pose much of a threat, and we gradually took more control of the match. With the introductions of Thorstvedt and Paintsil, fresh blood was added to the mix as well —  we wanted more than one point. The home crowd also felt the pressure and the noise grew as they whistled their own players. Paintsil was in on the counter, and then Ugbo’s shot was blocked. Preciado crossed, and then Bongonda controlled with his chest. Again we threatened on a quick counterattack, and the Croatian goalkeeper had to intervene twice, but both Joske and Théo could not find what would have been a deciding goal. Dinamo sat back from that point, before,  in stoppage time, both teams seemed to resign themselves to what was a well-earned draw.

1-1 it ended then, and it was an especially important point with a view to European football past the winter break, as West Ham won tonight in Vienna. A draw against Rapid Wien would thus mean third place and a spot in the UEFA Conference League. However, if we win, second place remains possible if Dinamo Zagreb doesn't get a result away to West Ham — we will know more on Thursday, 9 December.

Starting XI:

Vandevoordt, Preciado, Sadick, McKenzie, Arteaga, Hrošovský, Heynen, Eiting (Thorstvedt 66'), Ito (Paintsil 66'), Ugbo, Bongonda

Goals:

35’  1-0  Menalo 
45’  1-1  Ugbo