This is a match that undoubtedly belongs to those that blue supporters would most like to forget in their collective memory. A defeat from which it was difficult to recover. Dinamo was still playing under the name Croatia, but the euphoria following the victory against old rivals Partizan 5-0, and a brilliant generation of players led on the pitch by "fantasista" Robert Prosinečki, faced Newcastle United in the 2nd qualifying round of the Champions League. It was the final step towards the group stage.

The English won the first match 2-1, and to this day supporters still evoke the uncalled foul on goalkeeper Dražen Ladić during Newcastle's goal. However, the moment when Igor Cvitanović scored for 2-1 in the return leg in Zagreb during stoppage time shook both the stadium and the entire city of Zagreb. The stands erupted! That goal meant the blues had forced extra time. And 30 minutes later came the anticlimax. In the final seconds of extra time, at the moment when everyone expected a penalty shootout, the English scored for 2-2 and progression.

The blues opened the match furiously, creating chances... Srđan Zujo Mladinić pulled the attack from the center and powerfully struck from more than 20 meters from the right, with the ball rattling the junction of crossbar and post.

The pivotal moment came in the 44th minute, and the author was Swiss referee Urs Meier. Faustino Asprilla sent a long high ball into the penalty area from the right side, where Jon Dahl Tomasson was positioned and fell... The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot, judging that Goran Jurić had committed a foul. But he had practically not even touched Tomasson. Jurić was, of course, immediately sent off. Asprilla scored from the penalty spot.

Croatia equalized in the 59th minute when Igor Cvitanović delivered a free kick from the left side, and Dario Šimić headed powerfully under the crossbar at the "far post".

It was the third minute of stoppage time, the 1-1 result was taking the English to the Champions League... Spectators were slowly leaving the stadium, and Maksimir was no longer filled with roar but with silence from the stands. Then Silvio Marić and Igor Cvitanović forced the crowd to break the sound barrier and cause seismic trembling of the ground! The "unfortunate ones" who had already left the stadium and somewhere near the parking lot heard the volcanic eruption of spectator enthusiasm and the euphoric announcer's voice turned around 180 degrees.

The way "brave" Marić snatched the ball from the English in midfield along the eastern touchline and then pushed it forward to Cvitanović still draws sighs today. And about Cvitanović's execution itself, let's not even speak: calmly, composedly, in his recognizable style – with a powerful swing of his left foot in a slightly hunched stance – he sent a low ball into the far corner. It was 2-1 and entry into extra time!

But soon after, everything went quiet again... Dario Šimić's mistake after which Asprilla scored for 2-2 still meant Newcastle's progression. And that in the 120th minute. Maksimir supporters still cannot get over that match because many believe that autumn was the right moment, a special "momentum" in which all necessary conditions merged: attractive play, leadership on the pitch, euphoria, confidence, a strong team, tremendous belief from all actors and the players themselves – it was an autumn for great things.

Dinamo then moved to the UEFA Cup where a knockout system of competition applied. The blues first overcame Grasshoppers winning 5-0 in Zürich, defeated Hungarian MTK, after which Atletico Madrid stopped them in the round of 16.