The Croatian handball team qualified for the semi-finals of the European Championship after defeating Hungary in the Malmö Arena with a score of 27:25.
Croatia did not have the best start to the game, Martinović’s first ball was defended by the Hungarian goalkeeper, giving the Hungarians a chance to take a 1:0 lead. Načinović scores on the other side, we take advantage of the player more, but Hungary quickly regains the advantage and increases the score to 3:1.
Croatia then reduced it through Lučin, who shot from a distance for 3:2, but Hungary again increased to plus three, which forced Croatian coach Sigurdsson to the first time-out.
A change in the door followed, Dominik Kuzmanović he replaced Matej Mandić, and the defense switched to the 5-1 system.
Despite this, in the first ten minutes, Hungary scored too easy goals from the wing and through the game 7 on 6, while Croatia did not find solutions for their attack. After the 22nd minute, the score was -1 for Croatia, and we went to the break with -2 and one suspension.
The second half brought continued problems in the Croatian defense, but they gradually got back into the game. In the 44th minute, Načinović equalized the score, and the Croatian turnaround at 21:20 happened in the 45th minute. He had a decisive role Kuzmanović which is saved several goals, including a key seven-pointer.
By the end of the match, exactly eight minutes before the end of time, Hungary once again reduced the deficit to minus one. Hungarian goalkeeper Kristof Palasics defends Martinović’s key ball for a two-goal advantage. After that, the Hungarians were destined to break through, which Croatia took advantage of, and David Mandić scored for the final score of 27:25.
(www.jabuka.tv | Photo: Sanjin Strukić/Pixsell)
