January 14, 2019 - The Croatia handball team met Macedonia in the World Championship on Monday.
After two wins against Iceland and Japan, the Croatia men’s handball team met Macedonia in their third match of the World Championship on Monday. Croatia and Macedonia played in front of over 12,000 fans at the Olympic Arena in Munich.
Croatia was the first to score in the game with a goal by Musa for 1:0 in the first minute, though Macedonia equalized less than a minute later. Thanks to Karačić and Stepančić, Croatia had a +2 lead in the 5th minute for 3:1.
Ten minutes in and the game was fast-paced and close - Croatia led 5:4. In the 13th minute, Croatia was finally able to bring the score to 6:4.
Šego and Duvnjak were brilliant just moments later to save a Macedonia goal and scored one for Croatia instead. It was 8:6 in the 15th minute. Vranković made it 9:6 in the 18th and Kozina scored for 10:7 in the 19th. A brilliant Duvnjak made it 11:7 in the 21st, forcing Macedonia to call a timeout!
Another series of incredible saves by Šego and another zinger for Croatia made the score 12:7 in the 23rd - and then 13:7 just seconds later. Karačić made it 14:8 in the 25th, and 15:9 in the 27th.
The first half ended 16:11 for Croatia.
Croatia started the second half with strength, and it was goalkeeper Marin Šego to score for 17:12, and then Mandić in the 31st minute for 18:12.
Macedonia came back to just a three-goal difference in the 35th minute for 18:15, though Musa brought Croatia back to +4 just moments later.
A beautiful combination by Karačić and Šipić made it 20:16 in the 39th. Duvnjak scored in the 42nd for 21:17 and Stepančić made it 22:17 in the 44th!
The hero and Croatia captain Duvnjak did it again in the 48th for 23:19 before looking for the Croatian fans in the stands to cheer even louder. Šipić scored his fourth goal for 25:20 in the 52nd minute and Mandić scored for 26:21 in the 53rd - a massive advantage!
Duvnjak again pulled through for 27:21 with just five minutes to go and then 28:21 with four. Stepančić, however, gave Croatia their largest lead - 29:21 with three minutes to go!
Croatia continued to impress - Mandić scored for 30:21, and Ivan Vida scored for 31:22 to end the game.
An incredible display by Croatia in Munich tonight! Domagoj Duvnjak was named the player of the match.
Croatia plays Bahrain next on Wednesday at 6 pm, followed by Spain on Thursday.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
