CROATIA WIN THE 1ST MEDITERRANEAN FUTSAL CUP

Croatia beat hosts Libya in the final on penalties after a 1-1 draw

by Damon Shaw from Tripoli

Croatia were crowned champions of the Mediterranean on Wednesday in the final of the first Mediterranean Futsal Cup after a penalty shootout. Ivo Jukic was the hero, saving all four of Libya’s penalties.

Croatia took the lead in the first half through the player of the tournament Dario Marinovic with a superb strike that Mohamed Alsharif couldn’t get close to. Basher Bader equalised in the second half to the delight of nearly 6,000 Libyan fans.

Libya had the best chances to win the game in extra time but a 10 metre penalty save from Jukic and a glaring miss from Libya’s number 7 Hamdi Elshwain saw the game go to penalties.
The shootout finished 2-0 to Croatia, and Ivo Jukic revealed how he saved four penalties:

Ivo Jukic said: “It was a great match in the final there were two friendly teams outside the pitch and on the pitch it was a great battle and in the end we had a bit more luck and we won the championship.
“It was a great feeling (to save four penalties), I was in Libya for two months coaching their goalkeepers I knew some players and how they shoot and I had some luck.”

Croatia, ranked 20 in the world will now focus their attentions on preparing for UEFA EURO 2012 that they are hosting, after ended Libya’s dominance on home soil. They only conceded 9 goals in the tournament, a testament to their organisation and they scored 29 at the other end. Stankovic has had a good start to his tenure and is thoroughly focussed on the EURO.

Libya are in action next in the African Futsal Championship to be held in Burkina Faso where they will be aiming to defend their title under the guidance of Spanish coach Pablo Prieto.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com