Croatia and Spain will meet in the final of the Men’s U16 World Championship in Zagreb after both came through dramatic one-goal semi-finals on Saturday.
Hosts Croatia edged Serbia 12-11 in regular time, while defending champions Spain needed another penalty shootout to overcome the United States 17-16 after the sides finished level at 10-10.
Croatia had to recover from a difficult start against Serbia, who raced into a 5-2 lead late in the opening quarter.
The hosts gradually worked their way back into the contest, drawing level at 6-6 during the second period. Serbia restored a two-goal advantage early in the third at 8-6, only for Croatia to respond with three unanswered goals and take a 9-8 lead into the final quarter.
Serbia twice moved back in front during the closing stages, leading 10-9 and then 11-10, but Croatia produced the decisive finish.
The hosts scored the final two goals, with Lokas striking with 69 seconds remaining to put Croatia 12-11 ahead. Serbia could not find another equaliser, sending Croatia into Sunday’s gold-medal match on home soil.
Spain’s route to the final was even more dramatic.
After needing penalties to eliminate Italy in the quarter-finals, Spain again found themselves in a shootout following a 10-10 draw against the USA.
The Americans led for much of the contest and appeared to be heading for the final when they moved 10-8 ahead inside the final minute.
However, Adri Lopez scored twice in the closing 40 seconds, including the equaliser with just 10 seconds remaining, to force penalties.
Both teams converted their opening six attempts before the USA missed in the seventh round, allowing Spain to seal a 17-16 victory and keep alive their hopes of defending the world title won in 2024.
Croatia and Spain will now meet for gold on Sunday, while Serbia and the USA contest the bronze medal.
Elsewhere, Brazil defeated Egypt 11-9 and Russia edged Italy 8-7 to set up the fifth-place match. Hungary and Greece will play for ninth after comfortable victories over Malta and Turkiye respectively.
Results
Semi-finals
Croatia 12-11 Serbia (4-5, 2-2, 3-1, 3-3)
Spain 17-16 USA (3-2, 2-4, 2-2, 3-2, PSO 7-6)
5th-8th place
Egypt 9-11 Brazil
Italy 7-8 Russia
9th-12th place
Hungary 12-2 Malta
Greece 14-5 Turkiye
13th-16th place
Germany 11-8 New Zealand
Romania 5-8 Australia (PSO)
17th-20th place
Georgia 15-16 Singapore (PSO)
Netherlands 7-15 Montenegro
21st-24th place
Kazakhstan 7-9 Canada
Poland 7-5 Peru
25th-28th place
China 8-7 Slovenia
Israel 5-6 Ukraine
29th-32nd place
Portugal 18-2 Zimbabwe
South Africa 12-7 Czech Republic
33rd-36th place
Mexico 11-7 Malaysia
Puerto Rico 8-6 Uruguay
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