Summary of A1 League
All Matches at Poljud Stadium
The lower tier of the A1 League, Group A or West, 'stretched out' as we predicted over three days. Thursday and Friday brought two matches of Maribor's Branik in Split.
First Points for OVK Split
On Thursday, Branik played against OVK Split in an early clash of the 5th round and troubled the host. In fact, Branik led until late in the third quarter. From 4:1 in the opening minutes to 9:6 early in the third quarter. That's when problems began for the only Slovenian team which possibly exhausted too much energy as their decline was noticeable. In just five minutes, the host turned the score to 10:9, which was the first lead for the people of Split. A lead they didn't relinquish. These were the first points of the season for coach Mirsad Mice Zajmović's team.
Tough Day for the Slovenians
The next day, Branik had a much tougher task, this time in the 4th round match. As expected, their host was Mornar, surely one of the stronger teams in A1 League, Group A. Proven in the first 8 minutes where it was 8:1 for the sailors. Game over. Branik played both matches with only 12 players. However, OVK Split also had the same number.
Korculans Dominate
On Saturday, OVK Split was in action again, but this time against a much tougher opponent. The only island team in the premier league, Korcula KPK, didn't give the host even a tiny chance. Leading for all 32 minutes, without a single tie, let alone something more or better for the Split team. A three-point lead (4:1) from the first quarter was maintained by Korculans in the first three quarters. In the last quarter, they even strengthened, reaching 10:5 and settling the matter of the winner, if it was ever in question.
Zadar Team 'Broke Through' in the Second Half
All matches of the A1 League, Group A this weekend were played in Split. In the last match, Zadar triumphed over POŠK 1937.
In the first two quarters – equal play, a goal on one side, then a goal on the other, maintaining a 1:0 to 3:3 score after the first 16 minutes. In the third quarter, Zadar 1952 shifted gears, leading 6:3 two and a half minutes before the end of the quarter, and they just maintained that lead. It was once 2 points, but more often 4 goals difference, which was the final result.
