Dinamo Zagreb into UEFA Europa League After Champions League Playoff Loss

Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb have failed to earn a place in this season’s UEFA Champions League and will have to settle for the UEFA Europa League. 

Two goals in two minutes from Guillaume Hoarau helped Young Boys come from behind to beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate) at Maksimir stadium in Zagreb on Tuesday night.

Over 28,000 fans turned out in the Croatian capital as Dinamo started the match aggressively and after an early scare, they would take the lead in the 7th-minute after Dani Olmo’s cross from the left was poorly cleared and Izet Hajrović would bang home the loose ball from inside the box.  

Izet Hajrović (Photo: Young Boys/twitter)

Dinamo had one foot in the Champions League but in the 64th minute, Young Boys got back into the match when Hoarau scored from the penalty spot after Marin Leovac brought down Assaléa in the box.  

Hoarau scores from the penalty spot (Photo: Young Boys/Twitter)

Two minutes later and it was Hoarau again who would tap in from a corner to give the Swiss side the lead.

Hoarau scores the winner (Photo: Young Boys/Twitter)

Dinamo now needing two goals tried all they could but Hajrović’s effort which hit the crossbar with 15 minutes left was and two Mario Gavranović’s close-range misses in stoppage time was the closest they would come.

The loss means Dinamo Zagreb qualifies for this season’s UEFA Europa League.

The 2018/19 UEFA Europa League group stage draw ceremony begins will take place on Friday 31 August in Monaco.