Maribor to Face Opatija, Ljubljana to Play Mladost in the Semifinals

In the first semifinal on Saturday, Mladost, the defending champions, will face Ljubljana Slovan, who finished second in the regular season. The two teams already met last Thursday in a postponed regular-season match at the Ilirija pool in Ljubljana, where Zagreb won 22:20 after a penalty shootout.

Maribor, who expected to face Kranj in the semifinals, will now play against Opatija. The Maribor side defeated the Croatian team 15:13 at the first tournament in Koper. The match between Ljubljana Slovan and Mladost will start at 18:30, while Branik Maribor and Opatija will face off at 20:00.

Mladost Zagreb – Ströck Vienna

11:10 (5:2, 1:3, 3:2, 2:3)

Referees: Homovec (SLO), Vehovec (SLO). Delegate: Čadež (SLO).

MLADOST: Batoš Nikola, Lokas Vito, Kumrić Antonio, Čolović Andrija, Erenda Petar 2, Rogić Filip 4, Bolanča Roko, Šorić Matej 2, Dobrić Fran 2, Maglica Ivan, Brčić Vito, Sappe Deni 1, Radman Petar, Šindler Karlo.
Coach: Damir Vincek.

WIEN: Hoferica Tomas, Bekesi Bulcsú 2, Dano Lukas 3, Stefanovic Luka 1, Mitruk Adam 2, Sarandi Botond, Milosevic Sergej 1, Ribic Stevan, Ibrisimovic Erol 1, Dukic Milan, Vranjes Vlado, Jovandic Damian, Krupar Alexandr, Curcic Luka.
Coach: Mike Fasching.

Zagreb and Vienna had already met during the regular AWL season in the Pristan pool in Maribor, where the defending champions won 9:7. Their quarterfinal clash at the Final Tournament was even closer and more dramatic, although Mladost started the match better.

With a goal from Filip Rogić, Zagreb took a 4:1 lead three minutes before the end of the first quarter and maintained a three-goal advantage at the first break.

In the second quarter, Vienna’s Lukas Dano scored twice and equalized at 5:5 with one minute remaining, but Rogić restored Zagreb’s lead in the very next attack before halftime.

At the beginning of the third quarter, Adam Mitruk equalized once more, which turned out to be the final tie of the match. Midway through the last quarter, Rogić—who finished as the top scorer of the game—extended Zagreb’s lead to 10:7. That proved decisive, although Vienna came close in the final moments. Bulcsu Bekesi scored twice in succession, the second goal coming two minutes before the end to make it 10:11. However, there were no more goals until the final whistle.

Opatija – Triglav Kranj 21:19 (after penalties)

21:19 (5:3, 3:4, 3:5, 6:5, PSO 4:2)

Referees: Kavčič (SLO), Terzić (AUT). Delegate: Čadež (SLO).

OPATIJA: Dipić Mauro, Smokvina Bruno 1, Kolak Dominik, Turk Patrik 1, Peroš Duje 1, Blažić Marko, Kaluđerović Marko 1, Vlah Frane, Dujmić Lucijan 7, Petrić Ian 4, Sklepić Filip, Margitić Borna 1,, Smokvina Toni 1.
Coach: Marcel Latin.

TRIGLAV: Smolič Žan, Berić David, Vujanović Luka, Cvijanović Tepina Filip, Lah Jaša 2, Gostić Dejan, Justin Jan 2, Paunovič Aleksander 3, Vončina Juš 2, Cerar Aleksander 1, Troppan Aljaž 7, Velikanje Nejc, Udovč Bor, Marinič Marko.
Coach: Krištof Štromajer. Assistant Marko Gostić.

Opatija missed the opportunity at their home tournament to avoid the quarterfinal round of the Final Tournament, finishing fourth in the regular season after defeats against Ljubljana Slovan and Ströck Vienna. Just behind them were Kranj, winners of the first two editions of the AWL.

At the end of the first quarter, Kranj trailed by two goals, with Opatija’s top scorer Lucijan Dujmić netting three times. The same player extended Opatija’s lead to 6:3 early in the second quarter, but Jan Justin equalized at 6:6 midway through the period. Despite that, Opatija went into halftime with a one-goal advantage.

In the third quarter, Lah tied the score at 9:9, and Justin gave Kranj their first lead at 9:10. After a goal by Aljaž Troppan made it 12:10, Kranj entered the final quarter with a one-goal lead.

In a tense finish, Ian Petrić scored with nine seconds remaining to give Opatija a 17:16 lead while Troppan, Triglav’s top scorer, was excluded. However, that was not enough for victory, as Aleksander Paunović equalized just five seconds later—also with a man advantage—to make it 17:17.

The winner was therefore decided in a penalty shootout. Opatija kept their composure, with Borna Margitić, Marko Blažić, Dujmić, and Petrić all converting their shots, while Toni Smokvina missed. For Kranj, only Jaša Lah and Troppan scored, while Aleksander Cerar and Justin failed to convert.