Croatia round-up: Dinamo take the title

The prolific Ivica Olic scored a memorable hat-trick as NK Dinamo Zagreb secured their seventh Prva Hrvatska Nogometna Liga title courtesy of a 5-1 defeat of NK Varteks.

Unassailable lead
The victory ensured Dinamo moved into an unassailable nine-point lead at the top of the table with two games of the season remaining, as second-placed HNK Hajduk Split were defeated by NK Zagreb.

Olic hat-trick
Olic's three goals were enough to make him the top-flight's leading scorer on 16 goals, three ahead of team-mate Bosko Balaban. He struck his first two in the 27th and 35th minutes, while Mario Juric was also on target to make the half-time score 3-0.

Second-half strikes
Olic's third and the team's fourth arrived on 69 minutes and he was also involved in Dario Smoje's effort for the fifth, as a rebound from his shot fell kindly for the midfield player to score. Nedim Halilovic's goal for the visitors proved little consolation.

Rival favour
Last season's champions Zagreb paved the way for their city rivals to win the championship by overcoming Hajduk 3-1 at home. Hrvoje Strok gave the victors the lead but Srdjan Andric levelled on the stroke of half-time before two second-half goals from Radomir Djalovic, one a penalty, sealed the points.

Zeki double
In the other game in the championship play-off pool, NK Kamen Ingrad Velika defeated HNK Cibalia 2-0 with both goals coming in the final stages from the outstanding Zoran Zekic.

Dodik treble
Meanwhil, in the relgation pool Mario Dodik also collected a hat-trick as NK Slaven Belupo despatched NK Zadar 5-0 while NK Pomorac and HNK Rijeka played out a 1-1 draw and NK Osijek overcame HNK Šibenik 2-0.