Day 5, Group B: Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO) v Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) 14-10
Jug jumped to a 2-0 lead quickly, but the Spaniards came back to 2-2 and this was copied a bit later – the hosts led again 4-2, then Sabadell climbed back to 4-4. Bernat Sanahuja enjoyed a fine shooting form, he scored three in the early stages, however, the Croats always found the way to stay ahead and led 7-6 at halftime.
Decision time came in the third period when Konstantinos Kakaris scored a great one from the centre, and even though Kanstantin Averka pulled one back, Franko Lazic’s man-up goal and Loren Fatovic’s fine action goal 49 seconds later gave Jug a commanding 10-7 lead. And soon they were four up as Filip Krzic netted another one, after a brilliantly played extra. Sergi Cabanas’ centre-shot gave some hope for the Spaniards, but trailing by three in Dubrovnik with one period to go never was a good sign for any visiting team.
Especially after Krzic sent the ball home from another man-up for 12-8 one minute into the final quarter for 12-8. Still, Francisco Valera netted two in 45 seconds to halve the distance and Sabadell had two more possession to come back to one. However, they were unable to create more danger and another action goal from Fatovic closed down the contest with 3:28 to go at 13-10. A late penalty reset the four-goal difference, perhaps a bit wider than the actual one separating the teams this evening.
How they saw it
Vjekoslav Kobescak, coach, Jug
It was a very hard mathc – didn’t do a good job in defeence – four players outside lane scored the goals
We didn’t control the rhythm, at the end of the third an dofuth energy ws weaker both teams
We have to work hard to limit the number of mistakes
Quim Colet, coach, Sabadell
Today we player very good in defence – in attack good game
Not possible to receive goals from centre and zone
Next game is even more important for us
