Author: Zoran Stupar
World Championship for Croatian emigrant clubs began in Zagreb on Sunday. Defending champion Toronto Croatia won the opening game against Sydney United 58 5-2.
During the opening ceremony, all of the clubs presented themselves on the pitch. President of Croatian Football Federation Davor Šuker, mayor of Zagreb Milan Bandić and an envoy of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Romeo Jozak, said a few words and greeted the crowd and the clubs.
There were other familiar faces too; Joe Šimunić, a legendary Croatian football player told us he thinks the idea of the tournament that gathers Croats from all over the world, especially those who’ve never been to their homeland, is a great idea. Josip Juratović, a Croatian politician from the German Parliament Bundestag, agreed. ‘The solidarity of emigrant Croats will show on the pitch’, he said. Before the game started, president of Toronto Croatia, Joe Pavicic, told us he thinks that the Croatian emigration is cut off these days and events like this are great for improving that. He insisted that it’s nice for his team to win, but that’s not the main goal for him.
Toronto grabbed a win over Sydney
In the opening game of the tournament Toronto Croatia showed why have they won both tournaments held so far. Even though the young team from Australia did very well, the Canadian Croats were even better.
The game began great for Toronto. Hošić scored in 4th minute after the corner. Sydney’s Gonzales equalised from a penalty kick in 42nd minute, after the goalkeeper fouled Sydney’s attacker. 
Gonzales scored from penalty kick
Croatia went up again in 52nd minute, when Maletić scored a precise shot from the right. Seven minutes later, Sydney United equalised again. But that was the end of hope for United – in the next 10 minutes, Toronto scored three goals to make it 5-2. Hošić scored his second with a great shot from outside the box. Maletić added his second for 4-2, this time from the left. After the set piece, Hošić scored a hattrick in the 69th minute. 
Tihomir Maletić scoring for 3-2
Here’s the photogallery of the opening day. The tournament will continue today with games between Croatia Villefranche and a team of Croats from Vojvodina. Croatia Malmö will play Canberra FC and Croatia Stuttgart will play NK Pajde Möhlin.
Datum objave: 29.06.2015.
