Handball · International
Saračević scores eight as Croatia defeats Ukraine 26–18
Croatia extended its winning run at the Men’s EHF EURO 2000 to three matches with a 26–18 defeat of Ukraine in Rijeka on 25 January. The hosts led 13–9 at half-time and repeated that four-goal superiority in the second half. The eight-goal final margin was Croatia’s largest victory of the preliminary round.
2000-01-25 · Rijeka
Event date:
The story
Croatia extended its winning run at the Men’s EHF EURO 2000 to three matches with a 26–18 defeat of Ukraine in Rijeka on 25 January. The hosts led 13–9 at half-time and repeated that four-goal superiority in the second half. The eight-goal final margin was Croatia’s largest victory of the preliminary round.
How it unfolded
Zlatko Saračević scored eight goals, Zvonimir Bilić seven and Irfan Smajlagić six, giving the Croatian trio 21 of the winning total. Vitaliy Nat scored five for Ukraine and Vyacheslav Lochman four. Ukraine converted five of six seven-metre throws, whereas Croatia scored two from five; the hosts prevailed comfortably despite that disadvantage in successful penalties.
The wider picture
Croatia entered the final group match against France with three wins and an opening defeat to Spain. Ukraine remained on the single point taken from its first-day draw with Germany. Croatia’s subsequent 26–26 draw against France left the hosts third in Group A with seven points. Ukraine finished its group programme against Norway and ended sixth.
Period by period
| Half / final | Ukraine | Croatia |
|---|---|---|
| First half | 9 | 13 |
| Second half | 9 | 13 |
| Final | 18 | 26 |
Sources
Check the original record.
Open the governing body or organiser’s publication for the underlying result, decision or tournament update.