Croatia celebrates double overtime against Sweden!
February 28, 2022 – It was a double overtime win for Croatia against Sweden in the fourth round of the 2023 Basketball World Cup qualifiers!
Croatia and Sweden met in Norrköping on Monday and Croatia celebrated after double overtime 105-98 (14-21, 12-20, 24-18, 29-20 / 9-9, 17-10). Their first victory in the group keeps their chances alive to advance to the next round.
In the marathon match in Norrköping, Croatia reached its first victory in the group and won after two overtime periods. Filip Krušlin scored in the first overtime five seconds before the summer, and Goran Filipović scored a three-pointer in the second overtime.
Croatia was under almost the entire match and Sweden led by 15 points at the break (25-41). However, Croatia was able to turn around in the last quarter.
Three minutes before the end, Croatia took the lead 73-70 to take the match to the dramatic final. Sweden’s Hackanson hit three free throws to 79-77 just 27 seconds before the end, but Filip Krušlin equalized five seconds before the last summer and took the match to extra time.
Sweden was ahead in the first five extra minutes, but Goran Filipović made a three-pointer to 88-88 with 16 seconds left. Ramljak then blocked Hackanson, and the second overtime came into play.
With three points from Ramljak and Krušlin, Croatia got a 96-90 advantage. A new three-pointer by Tomislav Zubčić two minutes before the end gave Croatia the lead with 101-95, an advantage they managed to maintain until the last summer.
Goran Filipović was the best for Croatia with 29 points, Filip Krušlin scored 21 and Karlo Matković 16, while Ludvig Hakanson led Sweden with 31.
In this group, Finland has previously beaten Slovenia 83-79 away.
Finland has three victories, Slovenia and Sweden two and Croatia one. The first three national teams in the group advance to the next round of the competition.
Croatia still needs to play against Finland and Slovenia.
Source: HRT
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