The BH champions ended up celebrating a 4:3 victory even though they were three goals behind after the first 45 minutes of the game.

The Dutch took the lead in the 10^th minute. Mayckel Lahdo made an excellent cross from the right side, and Myron van Brederode sent the ball into the net with a volley on the other side. In the 32^nd minute, Sven Mijnans ran onto a deflected ball and scored a goal from about 12 meters away for 0:2. By the end of the first half, in the 44^th minute, Dani de Wit also scored.

“Noblemen” opened the second period of the game better and, in the 48^th minute, Zvonimir Kožulj made an excellent free kick from about 30 meters and reduced the advantage of AZ Alkmaar. In the 68^th minute, Zrinjski scored another nice goal when Josip Ćorluka hit the opposite corner of the opponent’s goal diagonally from the right side from the edge of the penalty area. The Mostar players played excellently in the second half and, in the 71^st minute, Matija Malekinušić sent the ball through the middle for Aldin Hrvanović, who shot accurately from 16 meters and equalized the score.

In the 81^st minute, Zrinjski completely reversed the result. Malekinušić hit the goal post first, and Kožulj ran onto the deflected ball and scored a goal for the final 4:3.

The following players played for Zrinjski: Marko Marić, Josip Ćorluka, Stipe Radić, Slobodan Jakovljević, Kerim Memija, Antonio Ivančić (81^st, Filip Bradarić), Andrija Balić (46^th, Zvonimir Kožulj), Dario Čanađija (63^rd, Tomislav Kiš), Marijo Ćuže (70^th, Matija Malekinušić), Nemanja Bilbija, Mario Tičinović (70^th, Aldin Hrvanović). Head Coach: Krunoslav Rendulić.

In the second match of the group, Legia beat Aston Villa 3:2 in Warsaw. The second round is scheduled for 5^th October at 21:00 h, when Aston Villa-Zrinjski and AZ Alkmaar-Legia will meet.

PHOTO: HŠK Zrinjski