Croatia beats Serbia to reach semi-final of World Water Polo Championships
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Jerko Marinić Kragić of Croatia (Photo by Albert ten Hove/Orange Pictures)
HUNGARY, 29 June 2022 – An impressive defensive display has helped Croatia beat Serbia in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Water Polo Championships in Hungary on Wednesday.
With Toni Popadić in goal leading the wave with a number of important saves, Croatia has beaten Serbia 14-12 (1-1, 4-3, 5-5, 5-3) to advance through to the semi-finals.
Popadić was in great form, saving 70% of Serbia’s shots in the opening half.
With the scores level at 1-1 after the first quarter, Croatia would go into the half-time break 5-4 up. In the third quarter they would enjoy a three goal lead but Serbia would close the gap near the end of the quarter.
Croatia head coach Ivica Tucak (Photo by Albert ten Hove/Orange Pictures)
Ivica Tucek’s side again stretched the lead to three goals in the final quarter and would record a memorable win.
For Croatia, Jerko Marinić Kragić, Marko Žuvela, Josip Vrlić and Franko Lazić scored twice, with Konstantin Kharkov, Ante Vukičević, Luka Vukić, Andrija Bašić, Loren Fatović and Ivan Krapić with one each.
Andrija Bašić (Photo by Albert ten Hove/Orange Pictures)
Croatia finished the group stages unbeaten, drawing with Greece (8-8), before beating Germany (13-9) and Japan (21-13).
Croatia will now face the winner of the Spain v Montenegro match for a place in the final.
