In a thrilling five-set marathon that captivated volleyball fans, HAOK Mladost Zagreb refused to bow out of championship contention, rallying to defeat Mursa Osijek 3-2 (21:25, 25:22, 19:25, 25:23, 15:10) in the Croatian Volleyball Superliga playoff finals. The hard-fought victory reduces Mladost's series deficit to 1-2, keeping their title hopes alive.
Mursa Osijek, bolstered by vocal supporters who made the journey from their hometown, started confidently and dominated the opening set. Their cohesive play and consistent point-scoring proved too much for Mladost as they secured a 25:21 first-set win.
The momentum shifted in the second set as Mladost found their rhythm behind Močić's powerful serves and Perić's crucial blocks. A decisive six-point streak helped them secure the set 25:22, with Spýros Chandrinós emerging as a key contributor, accumulating 11 points by that stage. Jovović's steady performance provided additional support for the Zagreb squad.
Mursa regained control in the third set, mirroring their first-set performance. Despite Mladost briefly taking a 17:16 lead, the Osijek team responded with a four-point run to pull away. Leo Andrić was instrumental in this phase, amassing an impressive 10 points in the set alone as Mursa took it 25:19.
Facing potential defeat, Mladost showed remarkable resilience in the fourth set. Trailing 21:19, they orchestrated a crucial 4-0 scoring run. The set reached its climax when a video-reviewed spike by Chandrinós sealed a 25:23 win, forcing a decisive fifth set.
According to Statbet, teams winning the fourth set in five-set volleyball matches typically carry a psychological advantage into the tiebreaker, which proved true in this contest.
Mladost maintained their newfound momentum in the final frame, establishing an 8:5 lead at the side switch. They continued to apply pressure, extending their advantage to 12:7. The match concluded when Močić delivered a net-kissing ace for match point, and Andrić's service error confirmed Mladost's 15:10 set win and overall victory.
Both Spýros Chandrinós of Mladost and Leo Andrić of Mursa delivered standout performances, each tallying 26 points for their respective teams.
After the intense battle, Mursa's coach Ratko Peris acknowledged the quality of play, stating, "Great match. Mladost deserved the win today. Now we focus on Sunday in Osijek." Meanwhile, Mladost's Radovan Gačić emphasized the long-term perspective: "This is a marathon, not a sprint. We'll do our best to bring the series back to Zagreb."
The series now moves to Osijek for a critical fourth game, where Mursa will have another opportunity to clinch the championship, while Mladost aims to force a decisive fifth match back in Zagreb.
