An effective and fast move for the first goal, a masterful strike from captain Josip Mišić into the top corner for an even more convincing lead, followed by Dinamo goalkeeper Ivan Filipović's red card and pressure from the hosts who managed to score a consolation goal with a man advantage... These were the main sequences from the second leg of the Champions League 3rd qualifying round in which Dinamo, after a convincing 5:0 from the first leg in Zagreb, once again overcame Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris, this time 2:1. This also serves as formal confirmation that coach Mario Kovačević's team has secured a place in the Champions League play-off, where Norwegian side Viking from Stavanger awaits. The first match is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18th at 9 PM in Zagreb, with the return leg a week later.

Mišić played the ball right to Luka Stojković in the 14th minute, who sent a diagonal pass left to Mislav Oršić who cut inside, and Dion Drena Beljo hit the opposite bottom corner first time. The ball flew past the post.

The Zagreb side took the lead in the 19th minute through a brilliant "tiki-taka" move with three effective quick passes. Stojković played a through ball on the right side for the overlapping Lisica, who played it back to around ten meters where Beljo received it, passed it short to Lukas Kačavenda who calmly slotted it into the net from the edge of the six-yard box first time.

The hosts tried to get back into the game quickly, four minutes later Leon Kreković struck powerfully from a free kick 25 meters out, the ball bounced in front of goal, hit Filipović in the shoulder and rattled the crossbar. Franco Baldassarra ran onto the rebound and fired over the goal.

Shortly after, a lot of interesting content was packed into five minutes, from the 27th to 32nd. First, Sergi Dominguez sent a long ball from deep in his own half to the left wing, Oršić received it, raced towards goal and hit the side netting. In the very next attack, Oršić picked up the ball on the left side, moved towards the center and struck powerfully from 17 meters, but goalkeeper Deividas Mikelionis saved brilliantly under the crossbar.

But in the 30th minute, the scoreboard showed 0:2. Home right-back Joris Moutachy carelessly passed the ball into the center in a dangerous area on his own half, Mišić intercepted it and struck from the left from 20 meters with his right foot, masterfully finding the opposite top corner.

Two minutes later, Dinamo was reduced to ten men. Goalkeeper Filipović and home right winger Motiejus Burba both ran for a long ball played into the visiting penalty area. The Maksimir goalkeeper ran out of his penalty area but didn't reach the ball, catching Burba in the process and receiving a straight red card. Dinamo was left with a man less, prompting coach Kovačević to substitute Lisica to bring on new goalkeeper Ivan Nevistić.

In such a "personnel deficit," Dinamo played for almost an hour, the pace dropped, the hosts held the ball more often, but the Maksimir team still calmly saw out the match despite conceding a goal.

In the 56th minute, in a scramble in Dinamo's penalty area, Amine Benchaib played left to Kreković, who shot, Nevistić saved, but Gabriel Debeljuh ran in and sent it into the net. The home fans were treated to an attractive move in the 67th minute by Leo Ribeiro, who struck with a spectacular scissor kick, but Nevistić stopped the ball without too much difficulty.

Kaunas, August 11th, 2026.

UEFA Champions League, 3rd qualifying round, second leg

Kauno Žalgiris – Dinamo 1:2

(first leg: Dinamo – Kauno Žalgiris 5:0)

Dariaus ir Gireno Stadium

Kauno Žalgiris: Mikelionis – Moutachy, Tolordava, Lekiatas, Konatar – Burba (57. Fiolić), Baldassarra (66. Kalik), Slivka, Kreković (57. Leo Ribeiro) – Benchaib (79. Ourega), Renan Oliveira (46. Debeljuh)

Coach: Željko Sopić

Dinamo: Filipović – Valinčić, Dominguez, McKenna, Perez Vinlöf (46. Goda) – Mišić; Lisica (34. Nevistić), Stojković (46. Vidović), Kačavenda (72. Galešić), Oršić – Beljo (61. Topić)

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Referee: Davide Massa (Italy)

Red card: Filipović (Dinamo, 32. - foul)

Scorers: 0:1 Kačavenda (19.), 0:2 Mišić (30.), 1:2 Debeljuh (56.)