20 days since the begging of training, on August 21st we have played a first friendly of the season. We travelled all the way to Donji Dragonožec. The day had started rainy and wet bud it got sunnier as the game approached. We didn’t have a usual fan support but it was enough for a Sunday afternoon and a place 20km from Zagreb.
FC Mladost Dragonožec has finished 5th in the 2nd ZNL last season with 7 wins, 4 draws and 10 losses with 21-22 goal difference.
The match itself started badly as we were goal down less than a minute into the game – the defence fumbled and the goal was scored almost comically. The opponents scored another four goals but we weren’t too disappointed as we were missing 7-8 first team players and it was the first match of the season.
We finally had a chance to meet the new players who have played quite good.
The result: 0:5; socializing: excellent; host: very friendly.
The second friendly was on August 25th against FC Zelengaj at Sava Jakuševac pitch where our players train.
The game started quite slowly as the opponents were measuring each other up, but Zagreb 041 scored near the middle of the first half and then it all started. Zagreb raised to 2:0, but near the end of the first half Zelengaj scores for 2:1. In the second half our players pushed on and raised the difference to 3:1. Afterwards, the result was 3:2, 4:2, 4:3 and a final 5:3 for Zagreb 041! It is worth mentioning that there were three penalties (talking about tensions against our fierce rivals), two of which were for 041. Both were taken by Arbutina who scored only one of them.
And third (but not last) friendly was on August 28th away against FC Čehi. Part of the gang travelled by bikes to support their club.
It was probably the best game due to excellent play and most of the team present. It finished with a good 1:2 result. We should mention that FC Čehi finished first in our division and were promoted.
We conceded a goal very early as well and also scored from penalty. Captain Skendrović took the penalty on his first match of the season and scored a nice goal in the lower left part of the goal although it was a side the goalkeeper has chosen. Many will say it should have ended in a 1:1 draw because a home team scored while most of our players were held up in a small argument between our coach and the referee at the end of the first half, but it was taken light-heartedly. Our new goalkeeper wasn’t able to attend the match, and Gunja was injured so our faithful fan Damir Čuljak has stepped between the posts of his beloved club which was met with excitement from the crowd.
At the end we should say that all three matches will be remembered, the players were breathtakingly good, the supporters have shown new players what kind of club they have joined and to old players that they have the support in the new season as well.
The next friendly is on August 31st against FC Mladost from Kloštar Podravski with whom we have close and friendly relationship through our member Jagić. We have travelled north to Podravina last season to support them for their match and they were outstandingly friendly hosts.
We would like to return in the same way so we are preparing the party after the match. Come join us to hang out with food and drinks and prepare our throats for the upcoming season!