Croatia round-up: Dinamo closing in on title

NK Dinamo Zagreb moved seven points clear at the top of the Prva Hrvatska Nogometna Liga with a 1-0 win against NK Kamen Ingrad Velika.

Penalty winner
It seemed as if the leaders would have to settle for a single point, but a penalty from Dario Smoje ten minutes from full time earned them a priceless win that was all the more important as nearest challengers HNK Hajduk Split suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at NK Zagreb.

Early blows
Two early goals earned Zagreb their unexpected victory, as Igor Novaković put the home side ahead the seventh minute and Hrvoje Strok doubled their lead eight minutes later. Petar Krpan pulled a goal back for the visitors after 57 minutes, but they were unable to find an equaliser.

Varteks closing in
Third-placed NK Varteks moved to within five points of Hajduk with a 3-1 win at home to NK Zadarkomerc, despite falling behind to Dalibor Nedić's second-minute goal. The home were level within four minutes thanks to Veldin Karić, before Ilami Halimi gave Varteks the lead after 62 minutes and Karić confirmed the win in added time, scoring a third goal from the penalty spot.

Surprise success
Struggling NK Osijek were also surprise winners, defeating HNK Cibalia 1-0 thanks to a Goran Ljubejević goal eight minutes into the second half that secured three points which moved his side away from the relegation zone.

Strugglers draw
Below Osijek, HNK Rijeka and NK Pomorac drew 1-1, a result which helped neither side. The visitors led at half-time through Goran Mujanović's 24th-minute goal but Natko Rački equalised for Rijeka five minutes after the restart and neither side was able to find a winning goal.

Late winner
Elsewhere, Klaudio Vuković scored the only goal of the game after 79 minutes as HNK Šibenik defeated NK Slaven Belupo 1-0.