Croatia has won first place at the HEP tournament for the 16-year-old boys and younger, held in Zagreb.
Four teams that will be medal contenders at the World U16 Championships in Volos in August– Croatia, Serbia, Hungary and Montenegro – took part in the tournament.
Croatia edged out Serbia in a very exciting final match– 11:10.
Serbia secured 1st place in the group stage after wins over Croatia and Hungary in the first two rounds. The Serbs and the Montenegrins shared the points in Round 3 (15:15). The last match in the group, an encounter between Hungary and Croatia decided who would join the Serbs in the final. Croatia recorded a win playing excellently in defense – 11:5.
Today, Croatia had a 3-goal lead in the final – 7:4 and 10:7, but the Serbs equalized on both occasions (7:7 and 10:10). Serbia scored its 10th goal in the 29th minute. Still, the hosts regained a lead with 82 seconds left on the clock – 11:10. Serbia didn’t level the score in the remaining time and the Croats won the gold medal.
Hungary beat Montenegro (14:11) in the bronze-medal game.
HEP Cup for U16 boys, Zagreb
Round 1
Serbia – Croatia 18:16 (4:3, 5:1, 4:4, 5:8)
Montenegro – Hungary 11:15 (2:3, 2:5, 4:4, 3:3)
Round 2
Montenegro – Croatia 10:15 (0:4, 4:2, 4:5, 2:4)
Serbia – Hungary 12:11 (3:4, 1:2, 4:3, 4:2)
Round 3
Serbia – Montenegro 15:15 (4:3, 4:4, 3:5, 4:3)
Croatia – Hungary 11:5 (3:0, 2:2, 5:1, 1:2)
Standings in the group: 1. Serbia 7, 2. Croatia 6, 3. Hungary 3, 4. Montenegro 1.
Bronze-medal match
Hungary – Montenegro 14:11 (4:2, 3:2, 5:3, 2:4)
Final
Serbia – Croatia 10:11 (4:6, 3:2,2:2, 1:1)
