Dinamo Zagreb opened their HNL campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Ružić at Maksimir on Thursday evening. The hosts moved to the top of the table with three wins from three matches, while Ružić remain rooted to ninth place after six games.
Beljo gave Dinamo the lead in the sixth minute, and Kacavenda doubled the advantage before half-time with a 39th-minute strike. Ružić's day collapsed at the 60th minute when Ante Sušak was shown a red card, and within moments Beljo converted a penalty before Hoxha added a fourth just three minutes later.
The statistics tell you everything, and here's the thing — Dinamo created nine big chances while Ružić managed none. They finished with 13 shots on target to 2, and 64 per cent possession against a side that could only muster 301 passes to Dinamo's 539. Ružić's goalkeeper made eight saves and still couldn't prevent the rout.
What stands out is how quickly Ružić's game plan evaporated after the dismissal. Three substitutions came at the 60th minute alone — Blagaic, Vukić and Kacavenda all off — and the hosts went from managing a lead to running out the clock. By then it was over.
Dinamo now sit four points clear at the summit after five matches, with one draw and no defeats. Ružić's record of just one win from six games leaves them with three points and a goal difference that tells its own story — they've shown no capacity to compete at this level.