Dinamo defeated Lokomotiva 3-2 at Maksimir in the final match of the eighth round of the SuperSport HNL, taking the top spot in the league table. The blue side led 2-0 and 3-1, but had to defend their lead with ten men for the last 20 minutes after Josip Mišić was sent off.
The home side took the lead in the 11th minute. Mateo Lisica delivered a cross, and Stjepan Radeljić headed the ball in, with Niko Galešić finishing the move. The referee, Patrik Kolarić, initially disallowed the goal for a foul in the attack, but after reviewing the footage, he overturned the decision and allowed the goal.
The home side's lead was extended by Dion Drena Beljo in the 26th minute, as he headed in a cross from Tabi. Lokomotiva responded two minutes later, with the ball reaching Vuković after a scramble in front of the goal, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
Dinamo returned to a two-goal lead in the 58th minute. Stjepan Stojković took advantage of a defensive error by the visiting team and found Belja, who broke free from his marker and scored with his left foot into the opposite corner for 3-1. In the 69th minute, Kolariš sent off Josip Mišić for dissent.
Lokomotiva made the most of their numerical advantage in the 75th minute. Belčar reached the ball before Radeljić, stepped in front of the goal, and scored past the goalkeeper, Dominik Kotarski, to make it 3-2. The guests pressed hard until the end, hitting the crossbar, but Dinamo held on for the win and three points.
In the other match of the round, Rijeka convincingly defeated Hajduk 3-0. The home side took the lead in the 35th minute with a goal from Thiago Dantas, and Samuel Vignato doubled the lead in the second half. The final 3-0 was secured by Ado Adjei in the 57th minute, following a mistake by the Hajduk defence.
Dinamo took top spot after the eighth round with 16 points from seven matches. Hajduk and Osijek also have 16 points, but after eight matches. Varaždin are on 15, and Rijeka on 14 points with a game in hand.
The championship continues on 10 October after the international break. Immediately following, there will be a major derby between Hajduk and Dinamo at Poljud, while Rijeka will travel to face Slaven Belupo in the same round.
