It was known that Montenegro is not as strong as it used to be, that it is not better than Slovenia, that it is possible to lose at the start of the world championship, but that the defeat will be so convincing and that the "lionesses" will be so weak - it could not even be assumed.
Montenegro lost to Slovenia 28:18 in an unequal match of the first round of Group A.
Nothing was out of place, nothing worked, problems were evident in both phases of the game.
Bojana Popović's girls led at the beginning 4:3, then they went into a series of mistakes, they did not score a goal for almost 15 minutes, and the Slovenian girls, who were well prepared by Dragan Adžić, on the wings of a good defense and goalkeeper Amra Pandžić, got both security and versatility in attack . They reversed, and then increased the advantage, which amounted to 12 differences.
Montenegro played almost the entire match without classic defenders (Jauković and Despotović were injured), with two playmakers (Grbić, Pletikosić) and two pivot women (Ramusović, Brnović), Malović was on the bench, and Premović tied up the minutes only in the finish - for Slovenia was preparing for such a formation, the connection with the line and wings was broken, the attack was completely harmless.
There were many mistakes in defense, Slovenia scored from all positions...
Itana Grbić scored six goals from 14 shots, and Jovanka Radičević seven (five from seven-pointers), all the others together - five.
Ana Gros registered six for Slovenia, and Pandžić received the player of the match status with 13 saves.
Montenegro plays Angola on Sunday.
End - Montenegro was defeated 28:18 by Slovenia.
Radičević from seven - 28:18, last minute.
Anja Koren Varagić walked through the defense - 28:17.
Dijana Mugoša's first goal - 27:16, then Sanje Premović - 27:17 with the player more.
27:15 - 51st minute. It was known that Montenegro could have problems, that Slovenia might be better at the moment, but no one expected such a heavy defeat.
Radičević for 25:15, but on the other side a seven-pointer, Premović sent off and a goal by Stanko 26:15.
24:14, Stanko scores, then Zulić from nine meters, 11 difference for Slovenia - 25:14.
23:14 - Radičević from the seven, after Gros was sent off.
Six goals by Itana Grbić, 22:13. Beganović on the other side, 23:13.
Ten differences - 22:12, 40th minute. Nina Zulić.
21:12 - Tija Gomilar Zikero from the wing.
20:12 - Montenegro with one less player.
"Shoot" and the defense, Nina Zulić from penetration, and on the other side Itana Grbić reaches the fifth goal - 19:12.
A missed attack with a player higher, Pandžić saved Ivona Pavićević's shot.
18:11 - Radičević from the seven-pointer won by Grbić.
Once again, the Slovenian women are versatile in attack, cooperation with the pivot and a goal by Ljepoja, 18:10.
17:9 - Grbić's third goal, with a lot of luck.
The 2nd half began and immediately Slovenia scored a goal, the maximum plus nine - 17:8.
Montenegro lost to Slovenia 16:8 at halftime of the match of the first round of Group A.
"Lionesses" led 4:3, and then for the next 14 minutes and 49 seconds they did not score a goal - Pandžić defended brilliantly, the attack was rather lukewarm, and the defense of the Slovenian women, which Dragan Adžić had obviously prepared well, was firm and aggressive in order not to allow the cooperation of defenders with wing players and pivot players, knowing that Montenegro does not have powerful shooters.
On the other side, Slovenia played in a variety of ways in attack, eight players were among the scorers.
Bonus video:
