The Croatia handball team played their second game of the European Championship main round against Denmark at 20:30. Denmark is the favorite not only in tonight’s match but also to win the tournament, and Croatia needed a victory to stay in the game for the semifinals.
Coach Hrvoje Horvat had Alilović, Pilipović, Čupić, Glavaš, Martinović, Ivić, Maraš, Cindrić, Gadža, Lučin, Slišković, Jelinić, Šipić, Marić, Načinović, and Gojun at his disposal tonight. Compared to the last game, Kristian Pilipović came in instead of Ivan Pešić, and right winger Mateo Maraš instead of left winger David Mandić.
Recap
Croatia didn’t score in their first attack and Denmark scored for 1:0 in the 2nd minute. Cindric scored to equalize at 1:1 in the 4th minute.
Denmark scored from 7 meters for 2:1. It was 3:1 for Denmark in the 5th minute. Lucin made it 3:2 a minute later.
Lucin made it 4:3 in the 8th minute. Denmark scored for 5:3 in the 10th.
Lucin scored for -1 Croatia – 5:4 – in the 12th minute. Denmark made it 6:4 in the 13th minute. Denmark was up by 3 in the 15th minute – 7:4.
Alilovic made an incredible save to keep Denmark ahead only by 3 goals in the 16th minute, though they scored for 8:4 moments later, forcing a Croatia timeout.
Maras scored for 8:5 in the 18th minute. Lucin scored for 8:6 moments later.
Glavas made it 9:7 in the 20th and Martinovic 9:8 in the 21st. Maras put Croatia back to -1 for 10:9 in the 22nd.
Maric equalized for 10:10 with 5 minutes to go in the first half! Cupic missed from 7 meters with two minutes to go.
Denmark led by two goals in the final minute of the first half (12:10). Maric scored for -1 – 12:11 to end the first half.
Denmark opened the second half with a goal for 13:11. Maric made it 13:12 in the 31st.
Denmark led by 3 goals in the 33rdd – 15:12. Cupic scored for 15:12 moments later.
Martinovic scored for 16:14 in the 35th. Jelinic scored for 17:15 in the 36th. Martinovic made it 18:16 in the 38th minute.
Maric put Croatia down to just -1 in the 40th – 18:17. Denmark was up 20:17 in the 42nd minute.
Cindric scored for 20:28 in the 44th minute. Jelinic scored for 21:19 a minute later.
Maric scored for 22:20 in the 51st minute. It was 23:21 for Denmark with 8 minutes to go.
Maric scored for 25:22 in 56th. Cupic made it 25:23 with 3 minutes to go. Maric scored for 26:24 with a minute and a half left. Maric scored again for 27:25, which was the final score.
Croatia plays Iceland next on Monday.
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