Japan Dominates Croatia, Secures Main Round Berth at World Championship
Germany/Netherlands – A commanding second-half performance propelled Japan into the main round of the IHF women’s World Championship, as they defeated Croatia 25-19 on Thursday. The victory marks Japan’s fifth consecutive main round appearance, while Croatia will compete in the President’s Cup after suffering their third straight loss.
GROUP A
Japan vs Croatia 25:19 (10:10)
The match was a crucial one for both teams, with a main round spot hanging in the balance. Croatia needed only a draw to advance, but both teams would enter the next phase with zero points. The game lived up to its billing, beginning as a tightly contested defensive battle characterized by frequent turnovers. While croatia committed fewer turnovers, their shooting efficiency proved lower.
Croatia initially seized the upper hand, opening with a 3-0 run fueled by backs Tina Barišić and Dejana Milosavljević.However, Japan quickly responded, guided by the playmaking of center back Natsuki Aizawa. the first half saw four lead changes, with neither team able to establish a lead exceeding two goals, ultimately ending in a 10-10 deadlock.
The turning point came early in the second half as Japan embarked on a 5-1 run, establishing a four-goal advantage. aizawa contributed two goals during the surge, supported by impressive saves from goalkeeper Sakura Kametani, who maintained a saving percentage around 50% through the first hour.
Despite Japan extending their lead to 15-11, Croatia struggled to mount a consistent response. The pressure of playing from behind proved challenging for the young Croatian team.Aizawa continued to dictate the pace,combining effectively with line player claire Francis Gray for a combined total of 13 goals,ultimately securing a 25-19 victory for Japan.
Sakura Kametani was named hummel Player of the match, finishing with 15 saves and an outstanding 47% saving efficiency.
with this result, Croatia faces their worst finish in World Championship history, surpassing their previous low of 18th place at Spain 2021, where they won two matches.
