ZMIJAVCI, Croatia (Interstat) — NK Dinamo Zagreb II left with a 3-2 victory over Croatia Zmijavci on Sunday after a back-and-forth match that produced five goals, six yellow cards and a late decisive strike from the visitors. Croatia Zmijavci started brightly and took the lead inside the first minute when Peter Ugwuodo scored. NK Dinamo Zagreb II responded quickly, settling possession and finding an equalizer through Borna Orlic in the 10th minute. The visitors then moved ahead in the 58th minute when Sven Sunta scored, but Croatia Zmijavci answered in the 73rd through substitute Borna Pernar. NK Dinamo Zagreb II scored the third and final goal of its account to secure the road win, completing a result that swung repeatedly after the early opener.

Sunta and Orlic each played the full 90 minutes and scored once for NK Dinamo Zagreb II, giving the visitors two reliable attacking outlets throughout the afternoon. Ugwuodo played the entire match for Croatia Zmijavci, scored the opening goal and was later shown a yellow card. Pernar, who entered as a substitute, needed only 26 minutes on the field to score for the home side. The scoring sequence kept both teams engaged: Ugwuodo’s early finish gave Croatia Zmijavci a short-lived advantage, Orlic’s reply restored parity, Sunta’s second-half goal put NK Dinamo Zagreb II in front again, and Pernar’s response brought Croatia Zmijavci level before the visitors found the final answer.

The match became increasingly physical. NK Dinamo Zagreb II’s Brundic was booked in the 39th minute, and Nsoki followed in the 41st. An NK Dinamo Zagreb II player received a yellow card in the 60th minute, while Croatia Zmijavci’s Ugwuodo was cautioned in the 69th. Croatia Zmijavci picked up further yellow cards in the 87th and 90+1st minutes as the hosts pushed for another equalizer. Croatia Zmijavci made substitutions in the 63rd and 64th minutes, and NK Dinamo Zagreb II made two changes in the 70th minute. The stops in play did not prevent either side from creating chances, but the visitors managed the closing stages well enough to protect their one-goal margin.

The result moved NK Dinamo Zagreb II to two wins and two losses in this competition and to two wins and two losses across all competitions. Croatia Zmijavci now has three wins and two losses in this competition and the same record across all competitions. NK Dinamo Zagreb II entered the match after losses to Cibalia and Karlovac and a win at Segesta. Croatia Zmijavci had lost at Segesta before beating Mladost Zdralovi, winning at Dugopolje and defeating Sesvete. The home side’s early goal and second-half equalizer kept the match open, but NK Dinamo Zagreb II’s third goal proved decisive in a contest that featured five goals and six yellow cards.

NK Dinamo Zagreb II’s third goal changed the final stages. Croatia Zmijavci, urged on by its home support, pushed numbers forward in search of an equalizer, and the hosts were shown yellow cards in the 87th and 90+1st minutes as the match grew stretched. NK Dinamo Zagreb II defended with composure and limited clear chances during the closing minutes. The visitors also drew cautions earlier in the second half, but they held their shape after taking the lead for the final time. The final whistle confirmed a narrow road win in a match that had been level at two different stages.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Croatia Zmijavci 1, NK Dinamo Zagreb II 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Croatia Zmijavci with a 72.2 percent probability to win. Croatia Zmijavci had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 5 went under the over/under line of 2.5.