The Croatia handball team met Iceland on Friday evening for their first game of the World Championship in Munich.
The day after the official opening and first games of the Handball World Championship, Croatia and Iceland met in Group B, which also includes Japan, Macedonia, Bahrain, and Spain, reports HRT on January 11, 2019.
The game kicked off at 6 pm in Munich, which saw Croatia and Iceland go goal for goal in the first few minutes of the game - 2:2 in the third minute, 4:4 in the 5th, and 6:6 in the 9th.
Croatia and Iceland continued with the back and forth play, and Croatia even had the lead at 9:8 in the 14th minute, though it didn’t last long. Iceland came back to equalize at 9:9, then took the lead at 9:11, 10:12, and managed a 4-point advantage at 11:14 in the 24th minute.
Fortunately, Croatia picked up their game, redeemed themselves, and reversed the result. In the 27th minute they equalized at 14:14, and by the end of the first half, Croatia led 16:14!
Croatia continued with strength at the start of the second half, and Luka Stepančić gave Croatia a 3-point advantage for 17:14. In the 33rd minute, Luka Cindrić gave Croatia their most significant lead of the game yet - 19:15.
After Croatia led 20:16 and 21:18, the 39th minute saw Iceland come back at 21:20… and then 22:22. Croatia lost their patience, and Iceland took advantage where they could.
Iceland managed to retake the lead in the 44th minute for 22:23 and just one minute later, 22:24. Červar was forced to use a timeout.
Domagoj Duvnjak managed to bring Croatia back for 25:25 in the 49th minute and Cindrić made it 26:26 in the 52nd. A brilliant Luka Stepančić put Croatia back in the lead in the 53rd, forcing Iceland to take a time out.
Croatia continued to show their worth after the break, and led 27:26, 28:26, and up 3-points in the 56th for 29:26!
With Croatia’s brilliant defense and perfect saves by goalkeeper Marin Šego, Croatia took a significant lead (30:26) with less than a minute to go.
Iceland couldn’t do much in the last 30 seconds, and Croatia thus secured their first win in the World Championship with a score of 31:27! Croatia will play Japan next on Sunday.
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