Dramatic draw denies Dinamo
Thursday, 2 December 2004
[1] Late goals from Ugur Yildirim and Klaas Jan Huntelaar earned SC Heerenveen a point at NK Dinamo Zagreb in dramatic fashion and ensured the Dutch side remained in contention to qualify from UEFA Cup Group G.
Frenetic finale
[2] Having fought back from two goals down in the final 16 minutes to draw with Feyenoord in the Eredivisie on Sunday, Heerenveen left it even later at the Maksimir stadium. With the home side apparently cruising following strikes from Ivan Bošnjak and Danijel Pranjic, Yildirim's 84th-minute solo effort brought the visitors back into contention, before Huntelaar converted a penalty on 88 minutes and then hit the crossbar in a frenetic finale.
Mijatovic suspension
[3] Heerenveen coach Gertjan Verbeek made just one change from the team that faced Feyenoord, with Michel Breuer coming in. Dinamo, meanwhile, welcomed back Bošnjak and Niko Kranjcar, while Vedran Ješe replaced the suspended Andre Mijatovic.
Golden opportunity
[4] After a slow start, Pranjic had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock on eleven minutes but his unselfish cut-back towards the advancing Veldin Karic fell behind the striker. Karic did collect possession two minutes later, but his left-foot shot from distance missed the target.
Bošnjak goal
[5] Heerenveen's relief was short-lived, however, as Edin Mujcin's free-kick found Bošnjak near the penalty spot, and the midfield player stabbed the ball just inside the post to give the home side the lead. Goalscorer almost turned provider minutes later when Bošnjak found Karic on the edge of the box, but the latter's half-volley was just wide.
Heerenveen initiative
[6] Heerenveen subsequently gained the initiative, though Dinamo almost scored a second against the run of play when Edin Mujcin's rasping drive was saved well by Brian Vanderbussche on the stroke of half-time. Keen to maintain that momentum, Verbeek added another striker, Georgios Samaras, at the interval, but it was Dinamo who started brighter.
Solo strike
[7] Pranjic increased the lead on 57 minutes when he shrugged off Yidrim's challenge and, although Michel Breuer appeared to have nullified the threat when he forced the Partizan man wide, Pranjic's low shot somehow evaded Vanderbussche's grasp.
Vanderbussche uncertainty
[8] The Heerenveen goalkeeper was almost embarrassed again shortly afterwards, completely missing a back-pass, but was spared as the ball rolled fractionally wide. Although Huntelaar finally forced a save out of Vasilj with a header on 66 minutes, Dinamo looked comfortable until the dramatic finale.
Sublime effort
[9] Yildirim gave the away team hope six minutes from time with his third goal of the competition, cutting inside and rifling a sublime shot past Vladimir Vasilj. Four minutes later, Samaras earned a penalty which Huntelaar nervelessly converted and Huntelaar could have grabbed a famous win in the third minute of added time but hit the crossbar from close range.
Crucial fixtures
[10] Heerenveen now return to the Netherlands where they will face KSK Beveren on 15 December knowing a win will guarantee their qualification for the knockout stages. With SL Benfica confirming their last-32 berth tonight, Dinamo must also win their final game, at VfB Stuttgart, to qualify.
Marijan Buljat (right) tried to escape the attentions of Stefan Selakovic