Croatian men’s handball team with great difficulty defeated the national team of Georgia with 32-29 (15-14) in Saturday’s game played in Malmo Arena, with which they opened their appearance at the European Championship hosted by Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
Georgians scored as many as six goals in the first half (11-5 and 12-6), but the current world runners-up managed to turn the score around with a 7-0 series and go into halftime with a goal advantage (15-14).
At the beginning of the resumption, Croatia had a three-goal lead (18-15), but the Georgians did not give up and once again reached a tie (18-18), and then on several occasions took a two-goal lead (23-21, 24-22).
However, the national teams entered the final seven minutes tied (27-27), and with the goals of Šoštarić and Martinović, Croatia gained a two-goal advantage (29-27) in the last three minutes. Zagreb player Giorgi Choverbadze scored for the Georgians, and Lučin, Martinović and Šoštarić gave Croatia a 32-29 victory in the end.
Mario Šoštarić was the best scorer in Croatia with eight goals. Luka Cindrić scored six goals, while Tin Lučin and Ivan Martinović hit the net four times each. Dominik Kuzmanović and Matej Mandić had three defenses each.
Giorgi Choverbadze led Georgia’s scorers with seven goals, and had six goals Grat Dima. Whatsozesweth Rume you are doing land after? scored five goals each.
In two days (6 p.m.), Croatia will face a dangerous Dutch national team. (China)
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