PHOTO: Croatia Beats Kuwait 40:21

The match against Kuwait was a chance for coach Lino Cervar to test which defence functions the best and prepare Croatia for harder matches.

First Half

The first goal of the match was achieved by Croatia with a goal by Lackovic. Kuwait equalised after Croatia fouled in offence. The second goal for Croatia was the work of Lackovic. However, the lead did not last long and Kuwait equalised again.

Vori scores his first goal for Croatia’s 3:2 lead. Kuwait holds strong and quickly equalises again. Petar Metlicic returned the advantage to Croatia. Kuwait outplayed Croatia’s defence and scored their fourth goal for 4:4.

Kuwait foul Vori and have one player less. Lackovic shoots but the ball hits the post. Kuwait do not exploit their attack and Croatia leads again. The striker was Cupic.

Cupic scores again and brings Croatia a two point lead. Kuwait reduce their disadvantage to 6:5, but then Croatia’s Duvnjak scores to return a two point lead.

Kuwait holds strong and exploits Croatia’s weak defence for 7:6.

Vori steals the ball and scores in a counter attack for 8:6. Kuwait scores from nine meters, reducing Croatia’s lead to one point. Losert recorded his second defence and a quick attack by Metlicic places the score at 9:7 for Croatia.

Venio Losert defends again with Cupic then scoring for a 3 point lead. Cupic scores again, the lead widens to four points.

Duvnjak makes a quick counter attack for a five point lead, but Kuwait soon reduce it back to four. In the next attack Vori scores and brings Croatia’s lead back up to five points.

Problems occur in Croatia’s defence and Kuwait score their ninth goal. Blazenko Lackovic shows his best weapon and scores. Croatia’s Sprem then scores for 15:9.

Croatia again had problems with their defence, and Kuwait score for 15:10. Anusic scores from the line for 16:10.

Denis Buntic scores a goal, and the result is 17:11 for Croatia. Cupic does not manage to score for a seven point lead, but scores his fifth goal in his next attack.

Said Al-Shamari earned a suspension. Cupic scores a goal from the seven meter line. Croatia rose to a nine point lead, the striker was Duvnjak.

This time Tonci Valcic earned a suspension, and Kuwait use the extra player advantage to score for 20:12.

Buntic scores after outplaying Kuwait. Croatia is left without Cupic for two minutes, which Kuwait also exploit to score.

Buntic sends the ball between the goalkeeper’s legs for 22:13. End of the first half.

Second Half

Sprem scores after Kuwait does not score in their attack. In the next attack, Kuwait reduce Croatia’s lead to nine points. Tonci scores for a ten point lead.

A suspension for Kuwait. Sprem uses the advantage and scores for an advantage of 11 points. The largest advantage so far.

Sprem scored again from the wing and brings the score to 26:14 for Croatia. Kuwait does not manage to score and Zrnic punishes that with a goal. Croatia’s Anusic earns a two minute suspension.

Kuwait scores after Losert defends a goal. Buntic brings the score back to a 13 point lead with his solo penetration. Buntic digs into the defence and pulls two players with him, and passes to Duvnjak who scores. Goran Sprem’s fifth goal brings Croatia to a 15 point lead.

Al Shamari scores against Alilovic, who took defence of Croatia’s goal for the first time. Sprem does not remain in debt and returns a goal.

Alilovic then record his first defence. Abdoul Asis scores a goal from behind the nine meter line. Denis Buntic scores his fifth goal.

Husai Alshamari is suspended for two minutes after a foul against Lackovic. Zrnic does not manage to score from the five meter line.

Kuwait makes a mistake in offence and Zrnic makes up for his previous missed shot and scores from a counter attack.

Alanezi earned a suspension. This time Zrnic scored from the seven meter line. Blazenko Lackovic scores. An excellent combination by Sprem and Zrnic scores another goal for Croatia.

Sprem scores the 37th goal for Croatia, which is his seventh for the match.

Sprem scores again, and Tonci Valcic scores a goal for the end of the match.

The final result is 40:21.

Take a look at the photo gallery: Croatia Beats Kuwait 40:21.