Zoran Juraj SABLJAK
St Albans Dinamo came into their clash against Altona Magic eager to secure their first win of the season, following a dramatic draw against sister club Dandy Hajduk the previous week.
Travelling to Paisley Park, Dinamo started brightly and dominated the opening 15 minutes, creating several golden opportunities to score. However, it was Altona who struck first, finding the net in the 19th minute against the run of play.
Dinamo found themselves further behind in the 36th minute after a chaotic goalmouth scramble resulted in Altona doubling their lead. The hosts took a commanding 2-0 advantage into the half-time break, leaving Dinamo with a mountain to climb. Despite a determined effort to claw their way back into the match, Dinamo struggled to break through Altona’s resolute defence.
Their task became even more difficult when Johnny Maglaras was sent off following an altercation involving multiple players, reducing Dinamo to 10 men and effectively ending any realistic hopes of a comeback. However, Dinamo showed great spirit and resilience, pulling a goal back in the 93rd minute through Brian Summerskill to give Altona a late scare. Despite the late strike, Altona managed to see out the remaining seconds and secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
A disappointed Dinamo will now turn their focus to this Sunday’s crucial fixture against Heidelberg at Tompsett Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:00, as Dinamo look to bounce back and claim their first victory of the campaign.