If only the 1st half had been played, the impression would have been great - in the 3rd round of the EHF Euro Cup, the Montenegrin handball players played exceptionally well against the strongest team from Norway, they constantly took turns in the lead and went to the big break with a minimal deficit (15:16).
And instead of continuing like that, they started to make mistakes from attack to attack and gave the world and European champion what he "lives on" - clean balls for counter attacks. If it hadn't been for the phenomenal Marta Batinović between the posts, who defended goal after goal, Torir Hergeirson's team would have already had a double-digit difference after about 10 minutes of play.
They were not far from that - as many as six lost balls and four missed shots by the "lionesses" allowed the Scandinavian women to take a 48:27 lead in the 19th minute and solve all dilemmas.
The match was settled at that time, the only question was by what margin the Norwegian women would avenge their loss in March last year in the "Verde" hall in Podgorica (28:23) at the qualification tournament for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
In the end, it was the same difference - 27:32.
Tonight's game was not nearly as important as that one, so coach Bojana Popović could try different settings, in order for the team to qualify for the European Championship, where the first phase will be played in Podgorica.
By then, Đurđina Jauković, Ema Ramusović and Katarina Džaferović will return, probably also Jelena Despotović, and tonight Milena Raičević returned in style - the girl who is one of the symbols of the national team played the entire match for the first time after the 2019 World Cup in Japan. (before that she only had about 10 minutes against North Macedonia) and showed that she will again be an important weapon both in defense and attack.
MONTENEGRO - NORWAY 27:32 (15:16)
Podgorica - "Bemax Arena". Spectators: 2.000. Judges: Antić and Jakovljević (Serbia). Sevens: Montenegro 9 (8), Norway 2 (2). Suspensions: Montenegro 4, Norway 2 minutes.
Montenegro: Rajčić, Kadović, BATINOVIĆ (15 saves), RADIČEVIĆ 9 (5), Pletikosić, Mugoša 1, Ujkić, Ašanin 1, MALOVIĆ 4, Ćorović, Premović, Brnović 3, RAIČEVIĆ 4 (3), PAVIĆEVIĆ 4, GRBIĆ 1 , VUKČEVIĆ.
Norway: Pedersen, GRANLUND (four saves), Davidsen (five saves and seven goals), Reistad 2, Arncen 2, KRISTIJANSEN, MERK 3 (2), OFTEDAL 3, LARSEN-AUNE 2, DALE-BRATSET 8, Ingstad 3, Heve 1 , Hegdal 1, Herem 6, SOLBERG-ISAKSEN, Ordal 1.
Bonus video:
