Croatia water polo opened its Olympic campaign against Kazakhstan on Sunday at 12:50 Croatia time. Ivica Tuck’s team was the clear favorite to win the match, which they convincingly showed.
Croatia lineup:
Marko Bijač, Marko Macan, Loren Fatović, Luka Lončar, Maro Joković, Luka Bukić, Ante Vukičević, Andro Bušlje, Lovre Milos, Josip Vrlić, Paulo Obradović, Javier Garcia Gadea
1st Quarter
Croatia opened with a goal by Maro Joković with 6:48 to go in the 1st quarter and Bijač defended Kazakhstan’s attack straight after. Luka Bukić scored Croatia’s second goal for 2:0 with 4:23 to go.
Fatović scored from 5 meters to make it 3:0 with 3:33 to go. Garcia scored Croatia’s 4th goal for 4:0 with less than a minute to go. Kazakhstan’s scored their first goal for 4:1 with 22 seconds left. Croatia closed out the 1st quarter 4:1.
2nd Quarter
Luka Bukić scored his second goal for 5:1 at 6:49. Kazakhstan made it 5:2 20 seconds later. Obradović sored from the outside for 6:2.
Luka Bukić nailed the goal for a third time with 3:24 to go (7:3), and again for 8:3. Joković scored from 5 meters for +5 (9:4).
Fatović scored Croatia’s 10th goal for 10:4 with 6 seconds to go, which was the final score of the quarter.
3rd Quarter
Vrlić scored for 11:4 to open the 3rd quarter and again for 12:4 seconds later! Croatia was in a very comfortable lead. Garcia scored for 13:4 before Maro Joković nailed a rocket (and potential goal of the tournament contender) for 14:4. Joković scored his 4th goal for 15:4 with 2:38 left.
Obradović scored his second goal of the match for an impressive Croatia lead of 16:4. Vrlić made it +12 (17:5) with less than a minute to go. Vukičević made it 18:5 to end the 3rd quarter.
4th Quarter
Miloš scored to open the final quarter at 19:5. Croatia’s received its third penalty of the game with 6:18 to go in the game. Obradović scored with ease for 20:6.
Fatović scored for 21:6 with 5:25 left. Joković scored his 5th goal of the game as Croatia’s best scorer with 3 minutes to go (22:6). Bijač saved a Kazakhstan penalty with 2 minutes left.
Macan scored his first goal of the match with a minute left (23:7). Andro Bušlje and goalkeeper Bijač were the only Croatia players left to score.
Croatia had the final attack of the match and was unable to score. The match ended 23:7 for Croatia!
Croatia will play Australia next. The match is scheduled for Tuesday at 12:50 pm.
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