Jug Dubrovnik became the first winner of the Super Cup of Croatia.
The first-ever Super Cup game in the Croatian water polo was held this evening in Zadar. Jug, the reigning national champion, beat Jadran Split, the 2022 Croatian Cup winner, by three goals – 14:11.
Jadran started better, but in the middle of the game, Jug took the lead and controlled the match until the end.
2022 Croatian Super Cup, Zadar
Jug – Jadran S 14:11 (3:5, 5:2, 3:2, 3:2)
Jug Adriatic Osiguranje: Jokovic 4, Fatovic 2, Lazic 2, Kakaris 2, Grgurevic 2, Biljaka 1, Krzic 1.
Jadran Split: Marinic Kragic 3,, Setka 3, Dobud 2, Buric 1, Delic 1, Duzevic 1.
The clubs weren’t in the same mood before the game. Jadran opened the Champions League with an away victory over Waspo Hannover. Jug suffered a convincing home defeat to Brescia in the CHL. However, the Dubrovnik-based side bounced back and won the first trophy in the season in which it will celebrate its 100th birthday.
Jadran Split led from the first minute, and a power-play goal from Jerko Marinic Kragic, while Jug chased the rival. The Croatian champion leveled at 1:1 and 2:2, but in the middle of the first period, Jadran built a 2-goal lead for the first time – after Kragic converted a penalty for 4:2. At the first break, the Split-based side was two steps ahead of Jug – 5:3.
After a one-minute break, Jug continued its chase and caught up with Jadran in the 11th minute – Jokovic netted an action goal for 6:6. In the following minute, the rivals exchanged goals, while Jug went ahead for the first time at the finish of the first half. Lazic converted a man-up for 8:7.
At the beginning of the third, Jokovic doubled Jug’s advantage and Jadran became the team that had to chase the rival. The Split-based team cut the deficit (8:9 and 9:10). Twenty seconds before the last break, the Croatian Cup winner missed a chance to equalize. At the other end of the pool, Konstantinos Kakaris beat the buzzer. He finished Jug’s quick attack scoring at 0:01 and Jug headed into the fourth quarter with an 11:9 lead.
Grgurevic made it 12:9 in Jug’s first possession in the fourth quarter. But, the battle wasn’t over yet. Jadran came close again (11:12) with 05:13 minutes left on the clock. But, the Split-based side couldn’t find the net in the remaining time. Jug regained a 3-goal lead in the 30th minute when Krzic netted an action goal for the final score – 14:11
Jug’s most experienced player Maro Jokovic, who scored four goals, was voted the MVP of the match.
