FINA World Youth Water Polo Championships Men’s Games: Quarterfinal: Croatia vs. United States of America

Croatia stun USA with sizzling display

A fired up Croatia has systematically crushed the United States 17-7 in the first men’s quarterfinal after jumping out to an unassailable 7-0 lead before halftime.

Croatia now faces a semi final tomorrow against the winner of tonight’s clash between Italy and Romania. The USA will play the loser of that match in the 5-8th classification.

The victory was Croatia’s fifth in succession at the tournament and on today’s display it will take a huge performance from someone to stop them winning the gold medal.

They were impressive in all facets of play, particularly in extraman where they rotated between a four-two and a three-three structure.

The Croatians jumped out of the blocks like men possessed and just after the first quarter had ticked past the halfway mark they led 4-0. Marino Cagalj got the first from 7 metres then Marino Divkovic and Ivan Zivkovic were next to score (both in extraman). Antun Goreta, who came into the game as Croatia’s leading scorer in these championships with ten, completed the rout for the quarter time score.

It took a few minutes but Deni Saric got the scoring underway in the second period and it was 7-0 before hardworking American centre-forward Alec Zwaneveld earned an exclusion allowing Chandler Jarrels-Stickney to score in extraman for his side’s first goal of the game. It had taken them just shy of 15 minutes.

Croatia scored again to make it 8-1 at halftime and with their goalkeeper Ivan Marcelic the best player in the pool the game looked well and truly over.

Chancellor Ramirez got the USA off to a better start with the first goal in the third quarter but Croatia’s next two goals were deflections off the hands of American defenders and you got the feeling it just wasn’t the USA’s day. At the final break it was 11-3.

Croatia scored another six to the USA’s four in the last quarter including an exciting hat-trick to Luka Bukic. Goreta ended the game with four to top the scoresheet.

A chuffed Croatian coach Mate Zeljak was suitably impressed by his troops.

“We expected a little bit more from the USA but you cant blame them because my boys play very well, were very motivated and I’m really proud of them,” Zeljak said.

“We tried to play hard defence and patiently in attack and the boys played at a high level.”

Zeljak singled out his ‘keeper Marcelic for extra praise.

“Our goalkeeper is a standout. He’s our captain and for years he’s making wonderful saves. He’s brilliant.”

Story by David Lyall

Croatia vs. USA

Result: Croatia 17 beat United States of America 7

Quarters: (4-0, 4-1, 3-2, 6-4)

Scorers CRO: Antun Goreta 4, Luka Bukic 3, Marino Divkovic 2, Andro Gagulic, Luka Lozina, Ivan Zivkovic, Deni Saric, Slavko Calic, Marino Cagalj, Antonio Buha, Andrija Basic

Scorers USA: Chase Reid 2, Ryder Roberts 2, Patrick Fellner, Chandler Jarrels-Stickney, Chancellor Ramirez

Croatia: Ivan Marcelic, Luka Bukic, Lovre Milos, Andro Gagulic, Slavko Calic, Marino Cagalj, Luka Lozina, Antonio Buha, Antun Goreta, Marino Divkovic, Andrija Basic, Ivan Zivkovic, Deni Saric

USA: Garrett Danner, Adam Abdilhamid, Chase Reid, Matthew Farmer, Patrick Fellner, Kent Inoue, Max Irving, Chandler Jarrels-Stickney, Chancellor Ramirez, Ryder Roberts, Connor Stapleton, Alec Zwaneveld, Kevin Levine