Timişoara turn tables in Zagreb
Thursday, December 17, 2009
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NK Dinamo Zagreb 1-2 FC Timişoara
The visitors finish bottom of Group A but end on a high with their first win of the campaign, ending any lingering hopes for Dinamo.
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FC Timişoara still finished bottom of Group A despite beating NK Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 to record their first win of the campaign.
Own goal
Dinamo's pre-match aspirations of progressing hinged on a win for both themselves and AFC Ajax. The Dutch side lost 3-1 to RSC Anderlecht to render Dinamo's result meaningless, though they too failed to fulfil their side of the bargain, Dorin Goga's 84th-minute strike proving decisive after Cristian Scutaru's own goal had cancelled out Gheorghe Bucur's earlier finish.
Pedro Taborda saves
The visitors rode their luck early on, however, Pedro Taborda repelling Miroslav Slepička on two occasions as well as denying Sammir and Mario Mandžukić. Though Dinamo's initial dominance proved fruitless, they had little with which to concern themselves in defence, Timişoara offering only Bucur's tame header as evidence they could add to a meagre tally of two group-stage goals.
Goga winner
Dejan Lovren twice lacked composure for Dinamo after half-time, as did Alexandru Curtean for the visitors, before Bucur capitalised on ponderous defending to turn in. Ten minutes remained when Scutaru miscued substitute Ilija Sivonjić's cross into his own net but there was still time for Ioan Ovidiu Sabău's side to take the advantage via replacement Goga's low drive from inside the penalty area.