Rollercoaster match in Split: Jadran edges Jug in shootout

Jadran Split kept the top spot in the Croatian League after defeating Jug in the 13th round after a penalty shootout, 18:15 (14:14).

It was a rollercoaster game, and Jug can be satisfied with one point, because the first half was a one-sided contest. During the middle break, many believed that Jadran would secure points with a convincing win. After the first eight minutes, Jadran, the home team, led 6:3. The hosts continued to dominate, scoring three goals in the first 90 seconds of the second period, jumping to 9:3. At halftime, the Split-based team was 10:5 up.

Jug tightened its defense and reduced the gap during the third quarter. But Jadan had a solid 12:8 advantage before the final eight minutes. The home side’s captain Zvonimir Butic, converted a penalty shot to make it 14:9 with 05:57 minutes remaining. However, it was the hosts’ last goal in regular time. Jug’s goalkeeper Toni Popadic posted a few saves at the finish and helped his team to make a comeback. Just 40 seconds before the end, Ante Jerkovic cut the deficit to only one goal – 13:14. Jadran lost the ball in its final possession, and Jug’s Toni Mozara equalized at 14:14 just three seconds before the final buzzer.

Jadran’s players made no mistake in a penalty shootout, while Marko Bijac posted two saves, and two points went to the Split-based side.

Zvonimir Butic scored four goals for Jadran. Dusan Matkovic, Jerko Marinic Kragic, Ivan Domagoj Zovic, and Loren Fatovic added two each. Ante Jerkovic was Jug’s best scorer with four goals. Maro Jokovic, Vlaho Pavlic, and Filip Krzic netted two.

2026 Croatian League, Round 13

Group 1^st – 6^th place

Jadran Split – Jug 18:15 (6:3, 4:2, 2:3, 2:6, PSO 4:1)

Primorje – Mornar postponed

Played earlier

Mladost – Medvescak 20:10 (6:1, 4:2, 3:5, 7:2)

1. Jadran 12 – 33
2. Jug 12 – 30
3. Mladost 12 – 30
4. Primorje 11 – 24
5. Medvescak 12 – 18
6. Mornar 11 – 15

Group 7^th – 11^th place

POSK 1937 – OVK Split 15:10 (4:1, 5:3, 3:3, 3:4)

Zadar 1952 – Solaris 12:9 (3:1, 4:2, 3:3, 2:3)

KPK Korcula bye

7. Zadar 12 – 15
8. Solaris 11 – 12
9. POSK 12 – 9
10. KPK 11 – 6
11. OVK Split 12 – 0

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