January 24, 2020 – The Croatia handball team met Norway in the semifinal of the European Championship in Stockholm on Friday.
Lino Cervar’s side was after the gold on Friday night – the only color missing from their collection of medals thus far.
Before the semifinal, Croatia and Norway had played 15 matches. Croatia was better with nine wins, while they had drawn once, and Norway had won five. The last match between Croatia and Norway was played at the last European Championship, where the Cowboys celebrated 32:28.
Croatia scored the first goal of the game for 0:1.
Norway took the lead in the 3rd minute for 2:1.
Stepancic equalized for 2:2 in the 4th minute, and again for 3:3 in the 6th minute.
Horvat made it 4:4 in the 8th minute.
Mandic gave Croatia the lead for the second time in the game for 4:5 and it was 5:6 in the 11th minute.
Stepancic made it 5:7 for Croatia in the 12th minute – and Maric made it 6:8 in the 16th minute. Sego was brilliant in goal to keep Croatia in the lead.
Horvat put Croatia up +3 in the 19th minute for 6:9.
Croatia was up 9:11 in the 25th minute. Norway reduced the score to 10:11 one minute before the half. Karacic scored for +2 at the half, which ended at 10:12.
Karacic opened the second half with a goal and a +3 advantage for Croatia at 10:13, and scored again for 12:14 in the 34th minute.
Mandic made 12:15 in the 35th minute. In the 39th minute, Norway equalized for 15:15.
Croatia was back in the lead for 15:16, though Norway was quick to equalize for 16:16.
Matanovic made it 17:18 in the 44th minute, and a stellar save by Sego prevented Norway from coming back.
Duvnjak scored a 7-meter shot for 17:19 in the 45th minute, but it was 19:19 in the 48th minute.
Matanovic scored to put Croatia back in the lead for 19:20, and Horvat made it 20:21 in the 51st minute. Norway, however, was back in the lead for 22:21 with five minutes to go.
Maric equalized with five to go for 22:22, and Duvnjak put Croatia back in the lead for 22:23 with three minutes to go. Asanin scored his second 7-meter shot to keep Croatia in the lead. A brilliant performance by the substitute goalie.
At 23:23, the game went to extra time.
Croatia was the first to score for 23:24, though Norway quickly equalized for 24:24. Stepancic put Croatia back in the lead for 24:25, though Norway equalized immediately.
Norway took the lead in the 67th minute for 26:25. Croatia was awarded a 7-meter shot in the 70th minute to stay in the game – Duvnjak scored for 26:26!
The game moved into 2nd overtime.
Sego made a save at the start to give Croatia the attack, though Stepancic was unlucky. Norway scored for 27:26.
Maric scored a brilliant goal around his back to equalize for 27:27. Horvat scored to give Croatia the lead for 27:28 and Sego made a crucial save for another Croatia attack!
Norway equalized – it was 28:28 at the half.
The final five minute half began with a Croatia attack, which Stepancic missed.
In the final 15 seconds, Musa saved the day to score for 28:29 – and secured Croatia’s spot in the final!
Domagoj Duvnjak was named the player of the game.
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