Jug is step away from new title in Croatia; Sabac upsets Radnicki

May 12, 2021

Xavi Garcia (Jug, blue cap) and Mislav Vrlic (Mladost) Photo:hvs.hr

Jug Dubrovnik is just a step away from its 17th title of the Croatian champion.

Jug defeated Mladost in Zagreb in the 2nd match of the final. The Dubrovnik-based team leads 2:0 in the series best-of-five.

Jadran Split won 3rd place in the Croatian League.

The semifinals of the playoffs of the Serbian League started this evening. Novi Beograd convincingly defeated Crvena Zvezda, while Sabac upset Radnicki and beat the Regional League champion in Kragujevac.

Croatian Championship, playoffs

Final (best-of-five), 2nd game

Mladost – Jug 8:10 (2:2, 2:2, 1:3, 3:3) – score in the series 0:2

Mladost: Buslje 2, Kharkov 2, Lazic 2, Biljaka 1, Bajic 1.
Jug: Obradovic 3, Papanastasiou 2, Loncar 2, Fatovic 1, Garcia 1, Benic 1.

The first half of today’s match played in Zagreb was balanced. Mladost took the lead four times, but the visitors equalized on each occasion, and the big rivals entered the second half from the same starting point (4:4).

Jug opened the third quarter excellently – with three goals in a row (Benic, Fatovic, Obradovic) and jumped to a 7:4 lead. Franko Lazic ended Mladost’s goalless phase that lasted ten minutes (from the middle of the second quarter) for 5:7. Still, Jug retook control in the fourth quarter. Obradovic and Garcia scored two quick goals within 35 seconds, and Jug went 9:5 up (26th minute). Three minutes before the end, Jug still had a 4-goal advantage (10:6). Mladost couldn’t come back. The hosts reduced the gap, but their 8th goal came too late – just 48 seconds before the end. After that, Jug managed to keep a 10:8 victory.

The final series will be continued next week

Playoffs for 3rd place (best-of-three), 2nd match

Solaris – Jadran S 8:13 (3:3, 1:4, 2:4, 2:2) – score in the series 0:2

Solaris:Pelicaric 2, Herceg 2, Goreta 1, Bulat 1, Koprcina 1, Stahor 1.
Jadran Split: Setka 5, Marinic Kragic 3, Delic 2, Buric 1, Butic 1,Milradovic 1.

As expected, Jadran was better than Solaris in the first two games of the series. The Split-based side won 3rd place and a spot in the Champions League qualifications.

2020/21 Serbian Championship, playoffs

Semifinals (best-of-three), 1st matches

Novi Beograd – Crvena zvezda 12:6 (2:2, 6:3, 3:0, 1:1)
Novi Beograd: Avramovic 2, Gogov 2, Radanovic 2,Dj. Filipovic 1, Cuk 1, Radulovic 1, Gardasevic 1, Asanovic 1, Martinovic 1.
Crvena Zvezda: Smiljevic 3, Tankosic 1, Subotic 1, Basara 1.

Radnicki – Sabac 7:8 (0:3, 2:0, 3:1, 2:4)
Radnicki: Toholj 2, Rasovic 1, Stanojevic 1 Krug 1, Ukropina 1, Radulovic 1.
Sabac:Vuksanović 4, Cetkovic 2, Vucinic 1, Velkic 1.

Novi Beograd and Crvena Zvezda had ups and downs in the opening minutes. Novi Beograd led 2:0, but Crvena Zvezda scored three goals in a row and turned around the deficit to a 3:2 lead. Then came a new turn. Novi Beograd scored four goals in four minutes and jumped to a 6:3 lead. The hosts maintained a 3-goal difference until the middle pause and broke the rival with three unanswered goals in the third quarter (11:5).

Sabac is the reigning champion from the season 2018/19. Still, Radnicki was the favorite in the second semifinal encounter. The Kragujevac-based team won the Regional League, it finished 1st in the regular season. After all, the game was played in Radnicki’s pool.

Sabac played very well in defense and shocked the hosts with a 3:0 lead. Radnicki found its rhythm after the first break, and started coming back step-by-step. Radnicki equalized early in the third period (3:3), and entered the fourth quarter with a slim 5:4 advantage. The fourth period started with a quick exchange of goals. In the 25th minute, Radnicki led 6:5. But, after that, Sabac produced a 3:0 series to gain an 8:6 lead with one minute remaining on the clock. Radnicki scored a consolation goal a few seconds before the end. Srdjan Vuksanovic was the player of the match with 4 goals.

The second matches are scheduled for Saturday.