The unexpected final brought everything that is expected from a cup match - there were twists, uncertainties, nice moves for our conditions and in the end the return of the cup to Budva.
The handball players of Budva Riviera defeated Mornar 7 in the final of the Montenegrin Cup - 21:20 (9:10) and won this cup for the second time in history.
The duel between the teams led by Novica Rudović and Stevo Nikočević was decided in a dramatic finish when Budva's brilliant goalkeeper Vasilije Vukajlović made the 14th save of the match to save Aleksa Ražnatović's shot for extra time.
It was the final of teams from the lower part of the SBbet First League of Montenegro, but it did not disappoint - Budva Riviera celebrates a new Cup, Mornar can be proud after reaching the final for the first time in history
The team from Budva was the first to threaten in the final, with Novak Bajčeta and Luka Novaković leading twice (8:6 and 9:7), but Barani did not show any signs of slowing down.
Aleksa Ražnatović shone in the first half, and after his fifth goal from as many shots, Mornar went into the break with a 10:9 lead.
Thanks to Jovan Kapisoda, a right-handed player who scored from the right wing, and another goal by Bajčeta, the team from Budva took a two-goal lead again after 48 minutes (16:14).
Aleksandar Mrvaljević had a shot with two minutes and 13 seconds left to possibly decide the winner, but Filip Junković made a phenomenal save. The ball remained in possession of Budvanska Riviera, and Rudović called for a timeout - the action he had envisioned was perfectly finished by Aleksandar Glendža for 21:19.
Mornar didn't give up here either, Ražnatović reduced the score to 21:20, the same player had a chance in the last seconds to equalize and take the match to overtime, but Vukajlović crowned a great day with a new defense.
In the winning team, Glendža stood out with six goals and Bajčeta with five, while on the other side, Ražnatović scored six times, and Sava Ražnatović and Božidar Nikočević scored five each, while Junković made 10 saves.
The trophy is traveling to Budva for the second time, Mornar will have to wait for a new opportunity to make history.
When it comes to this competition, since the restoration of Montenegrin independence, this year's champion Lovćen has been the undisputed champion, having won it 13 times. Budva Riviera is now the only one with two cups won, while Berane, Sutjeska, Partizan and Komovi have one each.
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