HC Vardar - Telekom Veszprém 27:24

 

 

HC Vardar: Milosavljev, Ghedbane – Stoilov 2, Popovski, Kristopans 4, Moraes 6, Dissinger, Karacic 3, Skube 3, Kalarash, Cupic 5 (4), Dibirov 3, Gorbok, Shishkarev 1, Vojvodic, Kiselev,

 

Telekom Veszprém: Mikler, Sterbik – Manaskov, Ilic 1, Tonnesen 4, Gajic 1, Nilsson 2, Nagy 1, Marguc, Strlek, Terzic 1, Blagotinsek 1, Nenadic 3, Mahé 6 (6), Mackovsek 2, Lékai 2

 

Penalties: 4/4 and 6/6

Suspensions: 4 min. and 10 min.

 

 

Vardar started the 2019 VELUX EHF FINAL4 final with a goal by Moraes, which was immediately equalized by Mackovsek in the 3rd minute. After that, Tonnesen scored from the back position, taking the lead right in the beginning of the game. In the 5th minute Vardar got a penalty which was scored by Ivan Cupic, 2:2. Dibirov scored in the 8th minute, but Tonnesen had the answer immediately. Moraes was scoring his second goal in the 9th minute, but just as the other time, Mackovsek brought the equalizer right away. In the 10th minute, Vardar got a two goals advantage after Mahé’s turnover Dibirov scored from the fastbreak, 6:4. After Mikler’s save, Blagotinsek brought Veszprém closer in the 12th minute. Two minutes later the difference grew to three by Moraes. Andreas Nilsson got into play and scored a goal in the 15th minute to make his team come closer, but from the next attack, Vardar scored and the difference stayed, 9:6. Nilsson was moving well and scored again a minute later. Now it looked like the fight of the line players, as Moraes scored another time in the 17th minute. Veszprém played with many technical mistakes around this time, and also Milosavljev saved some shots, thanks to which Vardar was up by four goals in the 19th minute, 11:7. In the 20th minute, Ilic scored, then Mikler saved on the side, while from the next attack lékai drew a penalty scored by Mahé. The difference suddenly dropped to two goals, 11:9. In the 22nd minute Terzic was suspended for two minutes. Vardar lived with the man advantage and brought their four goals lead back. László Nagy scored from the back and made the score 13:10 in the 24th minute. The difference grew to five by Kristopans in the 26th minute, which forced David Davis to call a timeout. The goal of Veszprém did not come after the timeout; Momir Ilic even got a two minute penalty, with Skube scoring from the advantage, 16:10 in the 28th minute. A goal by Lékai brought us closer, and Mikler Also saved on the other end. Unfortunately, Milosavljev was in top form and saved many attempts of Veszprém players. The end of the first half saw no goals, only Kristopans shot above the net from overtime free throw. The standing in half time is 16:11 to Vardar.

 

The second half was started by Telekom Veszprém, but Lékai charged the wall and the referees took the ball, while on the other side Karacic scored and made the difference six for the first time in the game. Nenadic scored right away after that. Sterbik took Mikler’s place in the net, and he started with a huge save. Manuel Strlek drew a penalty in the 34th minute, Mahé stood to the line and scored to the upper right corner, 17:13. A minute later Blagotinsek received a two minute penalty. Nenadic was efficient on a fastbreak and brought the team up to three goals, not even a minute later, Nenadic scored again, to bring it 17:15. Vardar started to make mistakes and Veszprém climb back up, Tonnesen’s goal took it to 17:16, one goal difference. Parrondo called timeout, after which Moraes scored from the line. Nenadic’s shot was denied by Ghedbane, who substituted Milosavljev in the 42nd minute. Terzic hit Kristopans in the face and received a suspension, from the advantage Vardar scored again, 19:16 in the 43rd minute. Lékai was efficient from a breakthrough, then our defense made Vardar’s job harder, but Dibirov scored from a rebound. On the other side, Tonnesen finished a good chance to make it 20:18 in the 45th minute. Stoilov fell on the ground, the referees thought the foul was intentional, so they suspended Mackovsek for two minutes. Stoilov got a suspension as well, after the foul on Nenadic, the penalty was scored by Mahé, who scored from it, 20:19. In the 48th minute Cupic scored from penalty, after which Gajic scored from the wing. Moraes scored again for 22:20, and Veszprém missed the next attack. Kristopans however scored and brought the three goals difference back by the 52nd minute. Mahé’s hand was steady again at the seven meter line, 23:21. Cupic scored from penalty again in the 54th minute, just like Mahé on the other side, 24:22. After Sterbik’s save, David Davis called a timeout in the 45th minute. His team immediately drew a penalty which was again scored by Mahé. Five minutes before the end the standing was 24:23 for Vardar. After Kristopans’ goal, Milosavljev saves Blagotinsek’s shot and was still up by two goals. The next attacks of both teams were scoreless. In the 28th minute the standing was 26:23. Nenadic could make it two, 26:24 but the clock was running, and Vardar drew a penalty, and scored yet again, deciding the title. The final result 27:24 to HC Vardar, which makes them the winners of 2019’s VELUX EHF Champions League.

 

 

David Davis: I am not disappointed, I am sad. The first half was not good. Congratulations to Vardar they were leading all game long very comfortable.

 

Petar Nenadic: Congratulations to Vardar and Macedonia for winning. I have a lot of friend in this club. We lost this game in the first half, because we did not play on the necessary level. Vardar had an amazing season.

 

 

Roberto Garcia Parrondo: First of all, it was a great final against Veszprém and a generally a great tournament for handball. We are very happy and I think our victory is well-deserved. Thanks for the players and the club.

 

Stojanche Stoilov: Congratulations to Veszprém for the fair fight. It was a very good game. It was a difficult season for us and this is now a great victory for us and for North-Macedonia.

 

 

Photo: Dávid Vörös