Double-chasing Dinamo wrap up Croatian crown
Saturday, April 23, 2011
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NK Dinamo Zagreb have secured their sixth successive Croatian title with four matches to spare after captain Milan Badelj scored in a 1-0 victory against NK Osijek.
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A solitary goal from Milan Badelj against NK Osijek was enough to secure NK Dinamo Zagreb their sixth successive Prva Liga title with four games to spare.
Set up by Argentinian defender Leandro Cufre, Badelj − the 22-year-old Dinamo captain − struck eight minutes after the restart. The victory maintained a now insurmountable 13-point lead over second-placed HNK Hajduk Split, whose 2-1 defeat of NK Slaven Koprivnica proved a vain attempt to stay in touch with Vahid Halilhodžić's side.
"We won 1-0 again, but I am proud and I must congratulate my players," said Halilhodžić, after his side's fourth single-goal victory in their last six league matches. "I treated my players to a very expensive champagne, which cost me a lot."
Dinamo's quest for silverware is not yet over this season, with NK Varaždin awaiting them in the Croatian Cup final over two legs on 11 and 25 May.
