HAVK Mladost are now just one victory away from claiming their first Croatian Championship title since 2021 after a commanding 17-12 win over Jadran Split in Game 2 of the finals series.
The Zagreb side now lead the best-of-five series 2-0 and will have their first opportunity to secure the championship next Thursday in front of their home fans. If successful, it would be Mladost’s 12th Croatian league title and their first in five years.
While the final score suggests a comfortable victory, the match remained finely balanced for three quarters before Mladost produced a devastating final period to pull away from the defending champions.
Jadran made a strong start in front of their home crowd and briefly looked capable of levelling the series. The hosts led 3-1 during the opening quarter, but Mladost quickly responded, with Luka Bukic helping restore parity at 3-3 by the end of the period.
The visitors gradually took control during the second quarter. Goals from Konstantin Nagaev and Antonio Biljaka gave Mladost their first significant advantage at 5-3, but Jadran captain Zvonimir Butic ensured the hosts remained in contention. The Croatian international delivered an outstanding individual performance, scoring three goals in the second quarter alone and eventually finishing with six goals and two assists.
Each time Mladost threatened to pull away, Butic provided the answer. He levelled the score at 5-5 before responding again when Mladost opened a two-goal gap, helping Jadran fight back to 7-7.
Mladost’s attack, however, looked increasingly dangerous. The visitors found production from multiple areas of the pool, rotating several centre-forwards while receiving strong contributions from Nagaev on the perimeter and Marko Radulovic through the middle.
The Zagreb club appeared to seize control midway through the third quarter. Goals from Nagaev, Luka Basic and Radulovic extended their lead to 10-7, the first three-goal margin of the match.
Yet Jadran refused to surrender. In less than two minutes, goals from Ante Pejkovic, Butic and Berehulak erased the deficit and brought the home side level once again. Goalkeeper Marko Bijac also kept his team alive by saving a penalty during the comeback.
At 11-11 entering the final quarter, the match remained completely open.
What followed was a championship-level statement from Mladost.
The visitors produced a stunning six-minute spell, scoring six unanswered goals to blow the game apart. Radulovic scored three times during the run, while Nikola Lazic added two goals and Josip Loncar found the net on the counterattack as Mladost surged from 11-11 to 17-11.
The defensive performance was equally impressive. Jadran struggled to create quality opportunities during the decisive stretch, while Mladost repeatedly blocked shots and controlled possession.
One of the key differences from the opening game was the performance of goalkeeper Mauro Ivan Cubranic. The young shot-stopper delivered an outstanding display, making 13 saves and providing the platform for Mladost’s victory. His contributions were particularly important early in the match when Jadran threatened to build momentum.
Jadran were boosted by the return of Ivan Domagoj Zovic, who missed the opening encounter, but the left-hander appeared limited after injury and was unable to make his usual impact in attack.
The result leaves Jadran facing a monumental challenge. Not only must they win in Zagreb next week to extend the series, but they must also solve a Mladost side that has looked stronger physically, deeper across the roster and increasingly confident as the finals have progressed.
For Mladost, meanwhile, the finish line is now in sight. One more victory would end a five-year wait for the Croatian championship and crown a season in which they have steadily re-established themselves among the region’s elite clubs.
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