bezjak has the beating of dinamo published: thursday 12 december 2013, 20.50cet
gnk dinamo zagreb 1-2 pfc ludogorets razgrad
roman bezjak struck the decisive blow as the group b winners extended their hosts' long wait for a uefa group stage win to 20 games.
roman bezjak's cool finish secured a fifth group b win for section winners pfc ludogorets razgrad, as gnk dinamo zagreb's ill-fated uefa europa league campaign came to an end.
on the front foot after duje Čop's header had taken them into the interval on level terms, zoran mamić's side were picked off on the counter on 72 minutes, slovenian striker bezjak slipping the ball past a defender and then beyond goalkeeper grzegorz sandomierski after being fed by dani abalo from the right. the croatian champions are now without a win in 20 uefa group stage games.
having lined up with just three of the starters from their matchday five fixture, dinamo made the fresher opening, but ludogorets took the lead on 28 minutes. not long after firing hopelessly off target from a deep delivery from the right, dani abalo produced an ice-cool low finish after first-time passes from bezjak and marcelinho left him with just sandomierski to beat.
already fated to end their campaign bottom of group b, dinamo looked like they might buckle: sandomierski pushed mihail aleksandrov's powerful angled shot over and marcelinho missed the target after beating the offside trap. however, the home side equalised on the stroke of half-time, Čop heading in smartly from close range after zvonko pamić's corner had been deflected back to him.
spirits lifted, the hosts emerged looking determined, junior fernándes whipping a curling ball across goal and wide on the hour. however, ludogorets always looked like they could go up a gear if the mood took them, and after bezjak buried his fourth group b strike, sandomierski pulled off an excellent save to deny aleksandrov from close range.
fatos bećiraj had the best chance to equalise but could not direct Čop's powerful delivery from the right on target, while sandomierski denied juninho quixadá a goal to mark his 28th birthday at the other end.
