Rijeka's footballers delivered a stunning performance on their home ground on Saturday, claiming a decisive 4-0 victory against Dinamo Zagreb during the 23rd round of the SuperSport HNL. This impressive win not only marked Rijeka's return to the top of the league table but also equaled their historic 4-0 triumph against Dinamo from 1978.
From the outset, the match exhibited intense competition. Though Dinamo dominated possession early on, Rijeka proved to be more tactical and effective on the attack. The game opened with palpable intensity, hinting at the excitement to come. Within ten minutes, Rijeka showcased their counter-attacking prowess as midfielder Fruk initiated the play with pace, setting the stage for what would soon become increasingly evident: they were ready to seize full advantage of every opportunity.
The first clear chance arrived when Fruk created space after receiving the ball wide, forcing Dinamo's goalkeeper, Nevistić, to make the first of many key saves. Just when it felt Dinamo might steady themselves, Rijeka struck first, igniting their home crowd.
At the 27-minute mark, Rijeka's Djouahra found the back of the net, firing low past the outstretched hand of Nevistić after flawlessly receiving the ball from Fruk. The home fans erupted, and the setback visibly rattled Dinamo.
Things took a turn for the worse for Dinamo just before halftime. After conceding two more goals, it was clear they were unraveling. The first came at the 40-minute mark when Janković skillfully navigated through the defense following Devetak's clever pass, slotting the ball home to extend Rijeka’s advantage to 2-0.
Less than five minutes later, it was Petrović's turn to increase the tally, burying the ball from ten meters after another superb build-up play, sending Rijeka to the locker room with a commanding 3-0 lead.
The second half began, and Dinamo, already reeling from the scoreline, faced another blow as Kanga received his second yellow card, reducing his team to ten players. Rijeka capitalized on their numerical advantage almost immediately. Just five minutes after the restart, Čop scored the fourth goal for Rijeka, bringing the score to 4-0 and virtually sealing the outcome of the match.
Despite numerous chances to extend their lead, including two near misses from Fruk and Janković, Rijeka maintained control of the play. Dinamo struggled to mount any serious attack. Their fans, who had filled the stadium hoping for victory, were left disappointed as the hosts demonstrated why they deserved the win.
With this comprehensive victory, Rijeka moved back to the summit of the league table, now holding 45 points—one point clear of Hajduk Split and seven points above Dinamo. The players' performances were lauded, demonstrating teamwork, strength, and strategy throughout. The Rujevica stadium was alive with celebration, ushering Rijeka supporters to jubilantly chant their team's praises as they took home the bragging rights after this historic encounter. The game closed with Rijeka firmly re-established among Croatian football’s elite, ready to face future challenges head-on.