Croatia was led to victory by Marijeta Vidak with seven goals and Aneta Benko and Žana Marić with five goals each, in their first qualifying game for the 2018 European Championship
Croatian female handball players collected their first points at the start of qualifications for the 2018 European Championship in France by defeating Switzerland in the Sutinska Vrela sports hall in Zagreb with 32:28 (19:12), Večernji List reported on September 27, 2017.
Croatia was led to victory by Marijeta Vidak with seven goals and Aneta Benko and Žana Marić with five goals each, while goalies Ivana Kapetanović and Tea Pijević were also excellent with 10 and 5 saves respectively.
The Swiss team was led by Sybille Scherer with eight and Kerstin Kundig and Romy Bachmann with five goals each.
The Croatian team began the match nervously and with plenty mistakes, which the Swiss took advantage of and led 6:2. But the momentum turned and the Croats created an 8:1 streak to turn the score around. In the middle of the first half Croatia was up 15:10 and then 19:12 by halftime.
The second half saw a drop in Croatian tempo and Switzerland came to two goals behind (24:22). But the crisis was averted with two quick goals, after which victory for the Croats was not in question, with the game ending with 32:28.
In the other match from the same group the current world and European champions Norway defeated Ukraine with 35:22.
In the next round the players led by coach Nenad Šoštarić will be on the road in Ukraine on October 1. Qualifications will continue in March of next year when Croatia will host Norway.
The best two teams from the group will qualify for the championship scheduled for November 30 to December 16 in France.
Translated from Večernji List.
