PARIS 2024: Martinovic buzzer-beater for Croatian win over Japan
It was spectacular performance by Japan in opening match of the Men’s Olympic tournament in Paris, but team led by Spanish coach Antonio Carlos Ortega, at the end, lost against Croatia 29:28 (13:18).
Japan had the last attack after time-out 25 seconds until the end, but two missed shots against Dominik Kuzmanovic, gave a chance to Ivan Martinovic who scored two seconds before the final buzzer for a big celebration of 1996 and 2004 Olympic champions.
Kosuke Yasuhira played in spectacular form, scored 10 goals, but performance of Japanese playmaker didn’t save his team from losing. Japan had 23:17 in 42nd minute, but Croatian NT coach Dagur Sigurdsson has found the way to make his 5-1 defense stabil and efficience 7 on 6 attack.
Top scorer in the Croatian jersey was Mario Sostaric with five goals.
CROATIA: D. Kuzmanović 5/20, M. Mandić 4/25, L. Mihić 4/5, D. Duvnjak 3/5, M. Šoštarić 6/8, L. L. Klarica 0/2, Z. Srna 3/5, J. Šarac 0/1, L. Cindrić 2/4, N. Grahovac -/-, T. Lučin 2/3, I. Martinović 4/7, M. Šipić 3/6, V. Načinović 3/3,
JAPAN: T. Nakamura 1/15, D. Okamoto 9/25, K. Yasuhira 10//15, T. Sakurai 1/2, N. Sugioka -/-, S. Yoshida 4/6, A.Y. Baig 0/1, Sh. Tokuda 2/3, J. Watanabe 2/3, H. Motoki 3/4, H. Tamakawa 1/1, T. Yoshino 1/2, N. Fujisaka 5/5, S. Takano 0/1,
