Dinamo dine out on timorous Timişoara

NK Dinamo Zagreb lost 2-0 at home to RSC Anderlecht in their Group A opener, but got back into goal-difference credit as FC Timişoara's defensive composure evaporated in Romania.

Scuffed clearance
Timişoara held on for a 0-0 draw at AFC Ajax on Matchday 1, but crumbled within eight minutes at home, with a lackadaisical clearance teeing up 20-year-old Milan Badelj to skid the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of Costel Pantilimon's net – with the help of a deflection off a team-mate. Their nerve shaken, the home defence played like strangers and only Pantilimon's reflexes denied the unmarked Ilija Sivonjić, though Dinamo looked vulnerable too.

Timişoara resurgent
Filip Lončarić, preferred to the more experienced Tomislav Butina between the posts, scrambled Claudiu Ionescu's free-kick wide on 19 minutes and would have conceded seconds later had Dorin Goga got a better head to the corner. The lanky Pantilimon then sprang to block Badelj's goal-bound effort while at the other end, Dinamo's Robert Kovač made a fine block to deny Gheorge Bucur before Lončarić produced an even better one to rebuff Goga as he powered through on goal.

Game over
However, as Timişoara's composure returned, they were floored again. Badelj looked to have lost his nerve and balance as he darted into the area on 52 minutes, but his awkward-looking flick picked out Sammir, whose first-time finish left Pantilimon helpless. Bad soon turned to worse for Ioan Ovidiu Sabău's men, as Pedro Morales ghosted through a challenge on the right before delivering a low shot which scuffed past the diving Pantilimon and into the net. Timişoara never stopped probing for a way back into the game, but while the margin of victory flattered the visitors a little, Krunoslav Jurčić's Dinamo were not to be denied.