A new Croatian champion will be crowned in Split on May 17.
Jug ran over Jadran in the fourth match of the playoffs final, played in Dubrovnik – 13:6, and leveled the score at 2:2, so the new champion will be decided in the fifth match scheduled for next Wednesday.
The previous three games of the final were very balanced. Jadran won the first and the third match by a goal (14:13 and 8:7). Jug beat Jadran 11:9 in the second game. Therefore, few could expect seven goals to separate the big rivals today. However, Jug played excellently in defense in the first half. At the beginning of the third period, the hosts went to 8:2. Jadran never came back into the game after that.
The game in the Gruz pool was played in an excellent ambiance. More than 1.000 spectators were in the stands. There were few empty seats. A group of Jadran’s fans arrived in Dubrovnik but returned home disappointed.
2022/23 Croatian League, final (best-of-five), Match 4
Jug – Jadran S 13:6 (2:1, 5:1, 3:2, 3:2) – the score in the series 2:2
Jug AO: Popadic, Burdjelez, Fatovic, Zvono, Jokovic 3, Vukojevic, BIljaka 1, Lazic 2, Krzic 2, Kakaris 2, Grgurevic, Zuvela 1, Jurisic, Mozara 2. Head coach: Kobescak.
Jadran Split: Marcelic, Buric, Marinic Kragic 1, Cagalj, Butic 2, Pejkovic, Bukic 1, Tomasovic, Delic, Dobud 1, Setka, Duzevic 1, Anic, Zovic. Head coach: Marelja.
Jadran had the “match ball” for its first-ever Croatian title. Today’s encounter in the Gruz pool was a must-win match for Jug. The hosts handled that pressure well, recorded a convincing win and prolonged the series.
Jug netted five goals in a row between the 10th and the 17th minute, which opened the way for the home team to the victory.
Jadran managed to equalize only in the early stage of the game (1:1). Jug entered the second quarter leading 2:1. Maro Jokovic made it 3:1 in Jug’s first possession in the second quarter, Duzevic responded immediately for 2:3. However, shortly after Jug started ruling the field. With an outstanding Toni Popadic (12 saves today), the hosts’ defense killed two man-ups in the second quarter. Jug didn’t miss its chances. Already in the 12th minute, the hosts had a 6:2 advantage. Fifteen seconds before the middle break, Toni Mozara scored for 7:2. Konstantinos Kakaris widened the gap to six (8:2) in Jug’s first attack in the second half.
In the third period, Jadran consolidated its defense. Luka Bukic ended the visitors’ goalless phase, which lasted for 10 minutes, by converting a man-up for 3:8. Jug started missing its chances, and Zvonimir Butic narrowed the distance to four with an action goal (4:8). Jadran woke up and had a chance to come even closer in a man-up attack, but Toni Popadic proved that he was in a good shape and saved a shot from Rino Buric. At the finish of the third quarter, Jadran’s last hope disappeared. Jug scored two goals in 44 seconds. Franko Lazic converted a man-up, Maro Jokovic added an action goal and Jug went to 10:4 in the 23rd minute. After that, it was clear who would win.
Jug dictated the pace until the end.
Both teams will play Champions League matches before the fifth game of the Croatian final. Jug will have a demanding task in Marseille on Friday. Jadran, which doesn’t have a realistic chance to qualify for the F8, will travel to Italy and play against the European champion Pro Recco on Saturday. That game would be a good test for the Split-based side before the last match of the final of the national championships. is out of the race for the Final Eight.
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