Ten-man Dinamo Zagreb march into Champions League group stages

Ten-man Dinamo Zagreb edged out Albanian outfit Skenderbeu Korce 4-1 on the night to record a 6-2 aggregate victory and progress into the group stages of the Champions League.

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Dinamo kicked off what proved a fast and furious opening quarter of the clash from both sides by drawing first blood after just nine minutes in the Croatian capital.

Josip Pivaric, whose added-time winner last week handed tonight's hosts a 2-1 first-leg lead, turned provider by floating a cross into the box and El Arbi Hillel Soudani's thumping header left Orges Shehi with no chance.

The lead lasted less than a minute, however, as Esquerdinha threw the Albanian minnows - chasing a first-ever group stage berth - a lifeline by blasting home an equaliser from long range.

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Unperturbed, Skenderbeu continued on in the same vein and Sabien Lilaj almost levelled up on the night, but his long-range shot whistled just wide of the post before the break.

With a 4-2 aggregate lead, Zagreb seemed to be cruising, but their task was made slightly more treacherous after going down to 10 men early in the second half when Goncalo Santos picked up a second yellow card.

The dismissal only served to unite Zoran Mamic's side who, despite their numerical disadvantage, added a third through Jeremy Taravel on 55 minutes to effectively secure their passage.

Having opened the scoring, Soudani then rounded it off on 80 minutes as the Croatians return among Europe's elite for the first time since the 2012-13 season.