Croatia Defeats Hungary 31-30 in a Thrilling Semifinal Showdown
Just ten seconds prior, the Hungarians held possession and were attempting to run down the clock while playing short-handed
In a stunning display of determination, Croatia overcame a four-goal deficit in the final five minutes to defeat Hungary with a last-second goal from Marin Sipic, finishing the match at 31-30 and securing a place in the semifinals of the Handball World Championship on Tuesday at the electrifying Zagreb Arena.
The crowd of 15,200, with the exception of about a hundred Hungarian supporters, erupted in jubilation as the pivot scored just before the buzzer, propelling Croatia into the final four for the first time since 2017. They will face either France or Egypt, who are scheduled to compete later tonight at 9:00 PM.
Just ten seconds prior, the Hungarians held possession and were attempting to run down the clock while playing short-handed due to Adrian Sipos’s exclusion.
However, they lost control of the ball, allowing the Croatians to complete their thrilling comeback after trailing 30-26 with a little over five minutes remaining.
In addition to Sipic, Croatian goalkeeper Ivan Pesic from Nantes emerged as a hero, entering the game with less than ten minutes to go and making three crucial saves, ultimately recording a save percentage of 3 out of 7.
Croatia’s journey has been marked by resilience; they found themselves behind 10-6 in the 18th minute and 24-21 in the 47th minute before executing their spectacular finish.
This victory also extends the journey of star captain Domagoj Duvnjak, who is set to retire from international competition at the conclusion of this World Championship at the age of 36.
