Mladost upsets Jug in Croatian water polo championship semis

Photo © facebook.com/VKJug

Water Polo World: April 24, 2014 - The battle for the Croatian championship could have an interesting battle coming up already in the semi-finals after Mladost, building form throughout the season, caused an upset by beating favorites and defending champions Jug in Dubrovnik 10-11 in game 1 on Wednesday.

The back-and-forth contest featured multiple lead changes before the visitors from the Croatian capital delivered a blow by taking control of the game leading 8-10 at three-quarter time after a 7-6 score at the main break. The teams, as expected, proved to be close in the game's final phase with Mladost prevailing for the close but important win led by the duo of Ivan Milakovic and youngster Luka Bukic who scored a combined 7 goals.

One major factor for the home side was the poor 6-for-20 conversion rate on extra-man. The second semi-finals series saw Primorje, where Sandro Sukno made his return after months of absence due to pfeiffer's disease, rolling past Croatia's number four Mornar 13-3 in a one-sided affair now well underway to securing a spot in the much anticipated play-offs finals. Both game's 2 are scheduled for next Saturday.

Croatian championship
Semi-finals (best-of-three)

Game 1

Wednesday 23-04:

Jug CO Dubrovnik vs. HAVK Mladost Zagreb 10-11 (2-3, 5-3, 1-4, 2-1)
Jug scorers: Miho Boskovic 4, Marko Macan 2, Jure Marelja 2, Nikola Janovic, Niksa Dobud.

Mladost scorers: Ivan Milakovic 4, Luka Bukic 3, Duje Zivkovic 2, Kristijan Milakovic, Marko Pavicic.

Primorje EB Rijeka vs. Mornar BS 13-3 (3-1, 4-1, 2-1, 4-0)
Primorje scorers: Denes Varga 2, Daniel Varga 2, Xavi Garcia 2, Cosmin Radu, Ivan Krapic, Petar Muslim, Dario Rakovac, Nino Mudrazija, Andelo Setka, Antonio Petrovic.

Mornar scorers: Marin Stipic, Rino Buric, Marin Ban.

Game 2 to be played Saturday 26 April.