DINAMO CRUISES INTO NEXT ROUND

For the second consecutive season, Dinamo Zagreb will face off against Domžale (Slovenia) in the UEFA Champion's League 2nd qualifying round. Last year Dinamo easily dismissed the Slovenian champs 5-2 on aggregate. This year, they will of course be without phenom midfielder, Luka Modrić.

Dinamo secured a spot in the 2nd qualifying round by holding Linfield to a 1-1 draw in Zagreb on Wednesday. This was enough for the Croatian club to get through on aggregate because of the 2-0 win they posted in Northern Ireland last week.

Croatian international, Marijo Mandžukić, opened the scoring before the seats even got warm at Maksimir Stadium with a goal in the 3rd minute. The goal just about sealed Dinamo's entry into the next round- but not without a fight. With hope looking bleak for Linfield, they managed a goal in the 54' by midfielder Michael Gault. That's all Linfield could muster as they have been eliminated and sent home on a sour note.

The dates have not yet been announced for next round tie with Domzale, but we can expect them to play on July 30th in Slovenia.

Stay tuned for more news on upcoming matches which include Hajduk and Slaven Belupo in UEFA Cup action.

DINAMO FACE-OFF VS. LINFIELD AT MAKSIMIR

Dinamo Zagreb play Linfield (Northern Ireland) today at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb in the return leg of their UEFA Champion's League 1st qualifying round affair. When the two teams clashed in Northern Ireland a week ago, Dinamo easily collected a 2-0 win with goals by Croatian international, Marijo Mandžukić, and Dino Drpić.

Dinamo will qualify for the next round as long as they don't lose by more than 1 goal. If Linfield wins 2-0, the match will go into overtime. However, Dinamo dominated the game on the 'emerald isle' and I don't see them having much trouble in Zagreb. The game will kick-off at 8:45 p.m. locally in Croatia.

Dinamo is expected to carry on and would play the winner of the F91 Dudelange (Netherlands)/Domžale (Slovenia) match. Domžale won 1-0 on Dutch soil last week. Should Dinamo and Domžale meet in the second qualifying round, it will be the second year in a row that these 2 teams have met as Dinamo eliminated the Slovenian club in 2007 on a 5-2 aggregate. That was of course with the likes of a Mr. Modrić on the 'blue boy' side.

The game cannot be seen live in America, but should you have Croatian satellite, I'm sure they will re-run it later in the day for all you BBB's.

DINAMO EFFORTLESS OVER LINFIELD

Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb overpowered Linfield 2-0 in tonight’s UEFA Champions League Qualifying match at Windsor Park. The boys from Belfast played with heart, however, talent wasn't on their side tonight. Linfield started with a 4-1-4-1 formation, which quickly turned into a 9 men behind the ball formation.

The opening goal arrived after just 19 minutes into it, from a great right foot by 22 year old Dinamo prospect, Mario Mandžukić. The ball was crossed into the box from the right and the Dinamo striker shrugged off a Linfield defender and blasted the ball into the upper left corner of the net.

Aidan O’Kane had Linfield's only chance 29 minutes into it, however, his fierce drive from the right was pushed away by Tomislav Butina in the Dinamo goal.

Dinamo continued to press in the second half but Linfield keeper, Alan Mannus was superb in goal.The pressure finally got to the boys from Belfast in the 90th minute when Dino Drpić scored to make it 2-0 for the 'Bad Blue Boys.' Linfield conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box and Dino blasted a low shot around the Linfield wall and passsed the helpless Mannus into the net.

Player of the match was Pedro Morales, who transferred to Dinamo this summer to replace Luka Modrić. Pedro was all over the midfield, directed play, and gave Mandžukić a half dozen good balls.

Overall, a comfortable win to say the least for Dinamo Zagreb against a pesky Linfield side. Dinamo is a lock into the second qualifying round.

One final note:

The Vatican flag from EURO 2008 Turkey-Croatia match finds its way to Belfast!