The Croatia handball team met Angola in the 2nd match of Group C in Borg El Arab, Egypt.
Croatia had a more than shaky start against Japan in the first match on Friday, collecting just one point from a 29:29 draw a few seconds before the end. If Croatia wants to be a realistic prospect for a medal, they can no longer make a mistake in the group stage to ensure they can transfer enough points to the second round.
Before the match against Angola, it was announced that Lino Cervar could no longer count on Luka Cindric, whose injury only worsened after playing against Japan. One of the best Croatian players left the national team camp for Barcelona where he will receive treatment. Cervar called up Janko Kevic in his place.
Before Sunday, Croatia had never played Angola, which lost to Qatar 30:25 in the first match of the tournament.
Angola v. Croatia Recap
Angola opened the game with a goal in the first attack for 1:0. Horvat equalized for Croatia from 7-meters – 1:1. Horvat missed Croatia’s next chance 7-meter shot in the 4th minute.
Strlek scored for 2:2 in the 5th minute. Croatia took the lead in the 6th minute for the first time at 3:2.
Angola was leading by 2 goals in the 14th minute (5:4), but Mamic came back for Croatia with a goal in the 15th (5:4).
Cupic scored from 7 meters, closing Angola’s lead to one goal in the 18th minute (6:5).
A very quick turnaround with two goals in the 19th minute gave Croatia the lead – 6:7.
Mamic scored for Croatia’s very first +2 lead in the 21st minute – 6:8.
It was 9:9 with four minutes to go in the first half – and 10:10 with three to go.
The first half ended with Croatia up by one goal – 11:12.
Brozovic scored for Croatia to open the first half and keep Croatia up by one – 12:13.
Cupic scored from 7 meters to put Croatia up by two in the 33rd minute – 12:14.
Croatia was up three goals for the first time of the match in the 38th minute, and up by four one minute later – 13:17.
Cupic scored from 7 meters to give Croatia the biggest lead yet – 13:18 in the 40th minute.
Maric scored for 15:19 Croatia in the 43rd minute, and Mamic scored for 16:20 in the 44th!
Cupic scored his 6th goal of the match in the 46th minute for 16:21 Croatia.
Martinovic scored two minutes later for 16:22 – Croatia’s biggest lead yet. Martinovic scored from 7 meters moments later to increase Croatia’s lead yet again – 16:23.
Thanks to another Martinovic goal, it was 17:24, and Jaganjac scored for 17:25 with five minutes to go.
In the final minute, Croatia was up by 7 goals – 20:27. Mandic scored the final goal of the match for a final score of 20:28 for Croatia!
Croatia’s goalkeeper Pesic was named the player of the match.
Recall, three teams from the group advance to the second round. Croatia’s Group C intersects with group D, which includes Denmark, Argentina, Congo, and Bahrain.
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