Croatia in the final: Musa resolves indescribable drama and scores for the grand finale!

(Patria) - The Croatian handball team is the first finalist of the European Handball Championship after defeating Norway 29-28 in the semifinal in Stockholm after two extra periods.

After the opening minutes, which saw goal-for-goal play and were dominated by Sander Sagosen and Marino Marić, Croatia was the first to gain a more serious advantage.

Marin Šego, with excellent saves, enabled the Cowboys several chances to take a three-goal lead, and in the 20th minute, they finally scored from a counterattack, with Zlatko Horvat making it 9:6.

Towards the end of the first half, Norway managed to reduce the deficit to one goal. However, in the last second, the incredible Marino Marić scored for the fifth time in the first half, so Croatia went into the break with a two-goal lead, 12:10.

The second half opened with Igor Karačić scoring his first goal of the day for a new three-goal lead, 13:10, but then in the 36th minute, Karačić missed a clear chance to go up by four. Bergerud made two consecutive saves, his teammates scored three goals, and in the 40th minute, Norway equalized at 15:15.

Domagoj Duvnjak broke Norway's run with a goal for a new lead, but Croatia then made two defensive lapses, which Sagosen punished, and Norway took the lead 17:16 after a long time.

The Cowboys responded with three consecutive goals. Duvnjak scored two, Matanović one, and in the 45th minute, Croatia was up by two, 19:17. Norway then reduced the deficit to one, and then, with a man advantage, Bergerud saved another clear chance from Karačić, before Sander Sagosen scored fantastically in the 49th minute for 19:19.

The last 10 minutes began with the score at 20:20, with goal-for-goal play, and Sander Sagosen was unstoppable for our neighbors. Bergerud then saved another clear chance from Karačić, Gullerud punished that, and in the 54th minute, Norway led 22:21, reports sportsport.ba.

Ašanin then saved a seven-meter shot from Sagosen, Duvnjak scored for 22:22, and Croatia stayed in the game. Until the end of the match, great drama ensued; Duvnjak scored again for a new lead, 23:22, and then Stepančić had to serve a two-minute penalty.

Ašanin then saved a seven-meter shot from Joendal as well, but Croatia did not use their attack to go up by two, and Norway got an attack to equalize, with Joendal scoring for 23:23.

Croatia had the last attack. They failed to execute a proper attack, and after 60 minutes, the score was 23:23, leading to extra time.

After the first extra period, only one goal was scored by each side (24:24), so the match remained extremely dramatic and uncertain. The second extra period saw slightly better play from Norway; they had an attack to go up by two at 26:25 but did not use it, and in the last second, Croatia was awarded a seven-meter shot. Duvnjak scored for 26:26, and the saga continued.

Even after 75 minutes of play, it was still tied (28:28), and we saw many mistakes from both sides in the remainder of extra time, with everyone waiting for that one goal that would decide the winner.

In the end, the Croats got it. Musa scored for 29:28 and Croatia's place in the final.