The men’s junior national team of Hungary clinched the gold medal at the U17 Mediterranean Cup (Comen Cup), which was finished in Cagliari (Italy) today.
Hungary defeated Italy in a thrilling final game – 8:7. Montenegro was better than Croatia in the bronze medal match (10:8). Spain finished 5th, ahead of Greece (6th place), Serbia (7th) and Malta (8th).
The eight teams were split into two groups in the first half of the 4-day tournament. Italy took the 1st place in Group B, while Hungary was the best in Group A.
Italy trashed Malta in the quarterfinals (20:1). Hungary beat Greece (9:4). Both teams recorded convincing victories in the semifinals (Italy – Montenegro 12:6, Hungary – Croatia 14:5).
After the first quarter of today’s final match, Italy had a 2-goal advantage (4:2). Hungary started climbing back. Early in the third quarter, Hungary went ahead for the first time (5:4). In the middle of the period, Italy equalized (5:5), but before the last break, Hungary built a 7:5 lead. The hosts came close three minutes from the end (6:7). Hungary doubled its advantage with 48 seconds remaining on the clock (8:6) and secured a win. Italy’s consolation goal for the final score came too late. Hungary recorded an 8:7 win.
The game for the bronze medal, between Croatia and Montenegro, also offered a lot of excitements. Croatia opened the match with a 3:1 lead. Montenegro went ahead in the middle of the second quarter (5:4). The Croats responded with an equalizer (5:5), but at halftime, Montenegro was two steps ahead of the rival (7:5). Deep into the third period, Croatia came back once more (7:7). The Montenegrins scored with two straight goals for 9:7 and they maintained the difference until the last buzzer (10:8).
The Mediterranean Cup was the last rehearsal for all eight teams before the European Junior Championships, which will be held in Tbilisi (Georgia) between 11th and 18th August.
Mediteranean U17 Cup (Cagliari, August 1st-4th)
GROUP STAGE (DAY 1 – DAY 2)
Group A
Montenegro – Hungary 8:16 (1:5, 2:5, 2:3, 3:3)
Malta – Serbia 5:19 (1:8, 1:4, 3:3, 0:4)
Serbia – Montenegro 9:10 (1:2, 3:6, 2:2, 3:0)
Hungary – Malta 18:6 (2:2, 6:2, 3:2, 7:0)
Malta – Montenegro 2:18 (1:6, 1:5, 0:4, 0:3)
Serbia – Hungary 7:9 (0:3, 1:0, 1:2, 5:4)
Ranking:1.Hungary 9, 2. Montenegro 6, 3. Serbia 3, 4. Malta 0.
Group B
Italy – Greece 10:8 (3:2, 2:2,3:2, 2:2)
Spain – Croatia 6:8 (2:0, 2:3, 1:4, 1:1)
Greece – Spain 3:10 (1:2, 0:0, 1:5, 1:3)
Croatia – Italy 8:12 (2:3, 1:4, 1:1, 4:4)
Croatia – Greece 9:9 (3:4, 3:1, 2:2, 1:2)
Italy – Spain 14:12 (4:2, 5:4, 3:2, 2:4)
Ranking: 1. Italy 9, 2. Croatia 4, 3. Spain 3, 4. Greece 1.
DAY 3
Quarterfinals
Italy – Malta 20:1 (4:0, 7:0, 6:1, 3:0)
Montenegro – Spain 9:5 (2:1, 1:1, 1:1, 5:2)
Croatia – Serbia 14:9 (3:1, 4:4, 3:2, 4:2)
Hungary – Greece 9:4 (3:1, 1:2, 3:1, 2:0)
Semifinals
Classification 1-4
Italy – Montenegro 12:6 (5:1, 4:3, 1:0, 2:2)
Hungary – Croatia 14:5 (3:1, 4:2, 4:0, 3:2)
Classification 5 – 8
Spain – Malta 14:1 (4:0, 1:1, 4:0, 5:0)
Serbia – Greece 10:12(3:3, 1:2, 3:2, 0:0 – PSO 3:5)
DAY 4
Final
Italy – Hungary 7:8 (4:2, 0:2, 1:3, 2:2)
For bronze
Montenegro – Croatia 10:8 (2:3, 5:2, 1:2, 2:1)
For 5th place
Spain – Greece 12:3 (2:0, 3:2, 3:0, 4:1)
For 7th place
Serbia – Malta 15:11 (4:3, 1:2, 3:1, 7:5)
1.Hungary
2.Italy
3.Montenegro
4.Croatia
5.Spain
6.Greece
7.Serbia
8.Malta
