Mladost clinches its first Croatian Cup after five years

November 29, 2025

Mladost Photo by Tomislav Franic/HVS

Mladost won its 11th Croatian Cup, the first since the 2020/21 season. The Zagreb-based team defeated Jadran Split, the reigning Croatian champion, in the final of the F4 tournament in Sibenik. Five goals separated the rivals at the end of the match. Mladost recorded a 16:11 victory.

Mladost didn’t qualify for the final in the previous four seasons. Jadran has been a regular participant in the Croatian Cup gold-medal match for the last five years, but has triumphed only once, in the season 2021/22.

Semifinals

Mladost dethroned the 2024/25 Cup winner, Jug, in the semifinals by defeating the Dubrovnik-based team 13:10. Jug scored an opening goal and leveled at 2:2. However, Mladost took control of the game and remained ahead for the rest of the match. Early in the third period, the Zagreb-based team established a three-goal lead for the first time, going up 8:5. Jug fought back and reduced the gap to just one goal several times, with the last instance occurring in the 28th minute when the score was 10:11. Yet, Mladost responded with two goals to secure its place in the final. Ivan Nagaev contributed four goals to Mladost’s victory, while his teammate and namesake Ivan Marcelic made 17 saves.

In another semifinal match, Jadran Split controlled the pace throughout against Solaris, the tournament host, and won convincingly 18:11, with five goals from Marcul Berehulak.

Final

Mladost got off to a flying start in the final, which set the tone for the game. It’s important to note that Jadran’s defense was lacking one of its key players, Croatia’s goalkeeper Marko Bijac, who fell ill shortly before the tournament in Sibenik. However, Mladost was a far better rival both in the offensive and defensive play.

The Zagreb-based team rushed to a 6:1 lead in the first eight minutes. Ten seconds before the first break, Berehulak scored for 2:6 to give some hope to Jadran. The same player opened the second quarter with a goal, reducing Jadran’s deficit to three goals (3:6). Buljubasic ended Mladost’s goalless phase, making it 7:3. By the end of the first half, Mladost re-established a 5-goal lead (9:4).

Experienced center-forward Josip Vrlic extended the lead to six goals in the 18th minute, making the score 10:4. Although young Curkovic quickly responded with a goal, Jadran’s chances of making a comeback were bleak. Mladost led 13:6 before the final period, and it was clear that the contest was effectively decided. Jadran narrowed the distance in the final eight minutes.

Four players of Mladost scored three goals apiece in a 16:11 victory: Loncar, Lazic, and Russian left-handed players Kharkov and Nagaev. Goalkeeper Marcelic displayed another impressive performance with 17 saves, even though he didn’t play 32 minutes. Mauro Ivan Cubranic replaced him at the finish.