Sandro Sukno, Marko Bijač, Maro Joković, Andro Bušlje, Marko Macan, Loren Fatovović, Luka Lončar and Xavi Garcia, our eight golden water polo players, arrived on Stradun where the amazing reception has been prepared – only for them.
With the music and the traditional VK Jug CO’s anthem, our players celebrated with the mayor Mato Franković, mayor of the Dubrovnik Neretva County Nikola Dobroslavić, deputy mayors, board members off the club, people of Dubrovnik, visitors…
Yesterday, the Croats defeated the host team Hungary (8-6) in the finals of the 2017 FINA World Championship held in Budapest. First world gold Croatia won in Melbourne ten years ago.
Croatia jumped off to a great start and won the first quarter 4-0. Croatia defensed really well and Hungary’s offense was really ineffective in the beginning.
Hungary started the second quarter much better with the lead of Vamos, who scored their first goal and had a steal right after that. The host team stepped up its defense and shut down the Croatian team in the second period, there was 4-2 on the scoreboard at half time.
Hungary had the momentum and goals by Erdelyi and Manhercz meant that five minutes into the second half, the teams were even (4-4). This was the moment that woke Croatia up, Javier Garcia scored twice, both of them were deflected shots, so Hungary was a bit unlucky at the end of the third quarter.
After Sukno’s goal, Croatia lead by three, but Vamos scored twice. The second was on a crucial extramen situation and he decreased Hungary’s deficit to one, when there was only two minutes on the clock. Sukno’s third goal meant a two goal lead again and eventually Croatia’s win in the final, so they became world champions.
