Soccer-Dinamo win Croatian derby as Partizan go clear in Serbia

By Zoran Milosavljevic

BELGRADE, March 8 (Reuters) - Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb stretched their lead to 16 points after an Ivica Vrdoljak goal clinched a 1-0 win over traditional rivals Hajduk Split on Saturday.

In Serbia, Partizan Belgrade went five points clear at the top with a 1-0 home win over Smederevo as second-placed Red Star Belgrade were held to a 2-2 draw at mid-table Banat Zrenjanin.

Dinamo overcame a youthful Hajduk side after Vrdoljak headed his second goal in as many games to keep his team firmly on course for a third successive league title.

Hajduk had started brightly and Srdjan Andric twice came close with long-range efforts before the home side got into their stride.

Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic blazed a shot over the bar from close range a minute before Vrdoljak broke the deadlock and Etto volleyed wide on the stroke of halftime.

In contrast to an action-packed first half, it was lacklustre fare in the second period.

"It was a very important win for us and I think the title race is now as good as over," former Liverpool midfielder Igor Biscan told Croatian television.

Second-placed Rijeka lost ground with a 0-0 draw at Zadar while Hajduk stayed third, 18 points off the pace.