March 18, 2021 - In a wild comeback, Dinamo tops Tottenham thanks to an Oršić hattrick and books a spot in the Europa League quarterfinal! The match ended 3-0 after extra time at Maksimir Stadium on Thursday night. 

Croatian champions Dinamo met Premier League side Tottenham in the Europa League round of 16 return match at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb on Thursday. In the first match in London, Tottenham won 2-0 with goals from Harry Kane.

Dinamo's backline changed compared to the first game. From the first minute, Franjić started instead of Leovac. On the other side, Son was not available to Jose Mourinho due to injury.

DINAMO: Livaković - Ristovski, Lauritsen, Theophile-Catherine, Franjić - Majer, Jakić, Ademi - Ivanušec, Petković, Oršić

TOTTENHAM: Lloris - Davies, Dier, Sanchez, Aurier - Winks, Sissoko - Moura, Alli, Lamela - Kane

After the Croatian Supreme Court upheld his verdict and imprisonment, Zoran Mamić resigned as coach of Dinamo earlier this week. Dinamo was thus led by former assistant Damir Krznar in tonight's match. 

Dinamo v. Tottenham Recap

Dinamo came out hungry to get a result that would keep them in the Europa League this season, which was evident from the start. However, there were not really dangerous opportunities from either side until the 30th-minute mark. 

The best chance of the match came from Lovro Majer who shot from the edge of the penalty area just outside the near post. One minute later, Dinamo threatened Tottenham's net again.

After two great opportunities for Dinamo, both sides calmed. Tottenham managed to win the ball again and keep possession. 

Tottenham's best chance came from Kane who was 1-on-1 with Livaković in the 44th minute, but the Dinamo goalkeeper acted brilliantly to keep the score level at the half. 

The second half saw no lineup changes. 

Dinamo's first attempt of the second half came in the 58th minute. Majer and Oršić saw their chances blocked, and Petković faked the Spurs defender only to shoot over the goal.

Gareth Bale was subbed on for Lamela two minutes later. 

Dinamo finally saw the back of the net in the 62nd minute - a stunning (and classic) Oršić shot from outside the box nailed the upper corner for the Dinamo lead! It was 1-0 with 28 minutes to go. 

Dinamo continued to attack in the remainder of the second half, giving Tottenham little chance of equalizing.

And then it happened - Atiemwen served Oršić who scored his second goal for 2-0 and extra time!

Leovac had a great chance for Dinamo in the 95th minute but served Gavranović a tough ball in front of the goal to keep the score even. Bale missed near post in the 102nd. 

The man of the hour started the second half of extra time with the unthinkable - Mislav Oršić scored a hattrick for 3-0 Dinamo! 

In the final minutes of extra time, a series of stellar saves by Livaković kept Dinamo ahead. A nail-biting ending, and the ref added two minutes of injury time. But Dinamo held on to win 3-0!

Dinamo will learn their quarter-final opponent after the Europa League draw tomorrow.

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July 23, 2020 - It is now official - Zoran Mamic will remain on the Dinamo bench next season as well, the club confirmed from Maksimir on Wednesday.

"The management of GNK Dinamo has decided to appoint Zoran Mamic as the head coach of the club's first team," Dinamo wrote in a statement and continued:

"When making this decision, we took into account that Zoran Mamic, as a former celebrated player, team captain, long-term sports director and from 2013 to 2016, head coach, knows the Dinamo system best. This is especially important in light of the fact that immediately after the end of the current season, a new season will begin, in which our ambitions are to win a new Croatian title and placement in one of the UEFA leagues.

In the coaching term of Zoran Mamic, we won five trophies, played in the Europa League and the Champions League, in which we remember the great victory over Arsenal in Maksimir. In that period, he promoted and gave the opportunity to a number of young players such as Marko Pjaca, Dani Olmo, Nikola Moro, Borna Sosa, Filip Benkovic, Filip Brekal, and Amer Gojak. The successes that Zoran Mamic achieved in his foreign coaching career in which he played the final of the World Club Championship with Al-Ain further strengthen the decision to appoint him to the position of coach of the GNK Dinamo first team.

In addition to the job of head coach, Zoran Mamic will retain the position of sports director. With Mr. Mamic appointed to two roles, we continue with the rationalization and responsible business in accordance with the global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," Dinamo concluded. 

Recall, after Igor Jovicevic was sacked on July 6, the Zagreb club announced that Zoran Mamic would lead Dinamo Zagreb until the end of the season. Mamic was then only the club's sports director. Zoran is the brother of the infamous fugitive Zdravko Mamic, and two years ago, he was sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison for damaging the club.

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