Matej Horvat (8), Antonio Sekulić (14), and Franco Jelovčić (18) scored the goals for Croatia, and Patrick Holy (14) scored for Poland.
The Croatia futsal team, led by coach Marinko Mavrović, thus opened the Euros with a victory, beating Poland, a direct competitor for second place in the group and a place in the quarterfinals.
The first goal for Croatia was scored spectacularly by Olmissum player Horvat in the eighth minute, during Poland’s attack and aggressive pressing. Horvat tricked the goalkeeper and another player and attractively hit the back of the net for 1:0.
In the 14th minute, Horvat lost the ball as the last player, leaving Holy alone in front of Croatia’s goalkeeper Luketin to equalize.
Only 15 seconds later, Croatia retook the lead after another player from Omiš, Olmissum’s Sekulić, cleared the rebound after Suton’s shot. Then, two minutes before the end of the half, captain Jelovčić scored from a solo action, almost from a dead angle.
Mavrović’s team started the second half worse and was saved by goalkeeper Žarko Luketin after two dangerous Poland attacks. However, Croatia’s defense withstood all challenges and reached an important victory in the first big competition in six years.
In the second match of the group, Russia defeated Slovakia 7:1.
Croatia will meet Russia next in Amsterdam on January 25 and Slovakia in Groningen on January 29 in the group stage.
POLAND – CROATIA 1:3 (1:3)
Futsal European Championship, Group C.
Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam.
Judges: E. F. Coelho, M. Castilho (Portugal)
Scorers: 0:1 – Horvat (8′), 1:1 – Holy (14′), 1:2 – Sekulić (14′), 1:3 – Jelovčić (18′)
Yellow cards: Sekulić (25′)
Poland: Kaluza, Grubalski, Zastawnik, Lutecki, Kriezel; Nawrat, Kubik, Madziag, Holy, Smialkowski, Solecki, Leszczak, Marek, Wojciechowski. Coach: B. Korczynski.
Croatia: Luketin, Matosevic, Jelovcic, Marinovic, Novak; Primic, Kanjuh, Djuras, Suton, Jurlina, Postruzin, Cekol, Horvat, Sekulic. Menu: M. Mavrović.
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