The fifth final four of the Champions League will almost certainly remain an unfulfilled dream of the Buducnosti handball players. Dragan Adžić's team fought like a lion, but in the end had to concede defeat to a significantly better, more prepared and stronger opponent - in the first match of the quarterfinals, the women from Podgorica lost to Norwegian Vipers 24:19 in "Morača".
The rematch is in five days in Kristiansand, it is known that the "blues" always play better in the second match with the same rival, but it would be a miracle if the team whose name means "snakes" in translation loses a huge advantage...
In the absence of Milena Raičević, it was clear that Budućnost would struggle in attack, because her creativity was necessary to find the easiest way to overcome the legendary Katrine Lunde - to get the ball down to the pivots and wings. Adžić's team did not succeed until the 26th minute, when Tatjana Brnović received the first ball and reduced the score to 10:7.
By then, Lunde had already stopped six shots (four from guard positions, Itana Grbić's counter and Nina Bulatović's attempt after running on the line), and she also saved a seven-pointer. Thanks to her, as well as to the great 20-year-old Hani Rejstad, Vipers turned the 5:0 series to 7:3 and then had Malin Aune's zicer, but Marina Rajčić brilliantly sensed that the right wing was going to lob her and caught the ball.
At the end of the half, Fuducnost started to play much better in defense, did not allow a single easy shot to the Norwegians, which is why they did not concede a single goal in the final seven minutes. And that last one was after a counterattack and a lost ball by Matea Pletikosić... Unfortunately, in the 20th minute, Grbić was injured and was taken off the field after a collision with Marta Tomac, and maybe she was the best solution for the middle back.
The women from Podgorica reduced the score to 10:8 by the time of the break, only to come close to that difference one more time later. Then the super-talented Rajstad came on the scene again and with her fifth and sixth goals, she again increased the lead to four (13:9). And she gave everything from the game, one more than the entire opposing team (four were from sevens).
Soon it was minus five, and the new excellent period of play in defense was not used in attack.
In fact, Lunde didn't give that - with the score 16:13 for her team, the living legend of world handball saved Ema Ramusović's and Brnović's goals, as well as Jauković's shot from nine meters.
After Ole-Gustav Gjekstad's time-out, Žanet Kristiansen found a way to the net, then Pletikosić lost another ball, and Silje Vade returned plus five from the counterattack (18:13) and practically solved the question of the winner.
It also seems like a trip to Budapest for the final four, because Budućnost without Raičević and Grbić can hardly make up for the huge deficit in five days in Kristiansand...
FUTURE - VIPERS 19:24 (8:10)
Podgorica - "Morača" Hall. Spectators: 1.800. Referees: Marin and Garcia (Spain). Sevens: Buducnost 6 (5), Vipers 4 (3). Suspensions: Buducnost 8, Vipers 8 minutes. Red card: Rajstad (Vipers) in the 60th minute (3X2).
Future: Rajčić (6 saves and seven goals), ZOKEBI DE PAULA (two saves), Babović, JAUKOVIĆ 5, A. BULATOVIĆ 1, Laslo 2 (2), Knežević, Godeč, Premović 2 (2), K. BULATOVIĆ 4 (2) , BRNOVIĆ 2, N. BULATOVIĆ, Pavićević 1, Ramusović 1, GRBIĆ, Pletikosić 1.
Vipers: Fagerheim, LUNDE (13 saves and seven goals), Olsen, ARNCEN 3, Refsnes, AUNE 1, Morais, KRISTENSEN 2, JOHANSEN 1, VADE, Suland 4 (3), Kristiansen 5, Tomac, Itereng 1, RAJSTAD 6, Naes- Andersen 1.
Bonus video:
