All impregnable fortresses once fell, not even "Morača" could resist forever - Montenegrin handball players lost for the first time in history in our biggest hall, and Slovenia succeeded in what great Denmark, Germany, Sweden did not...
Team Uroš Zorman had more patience, experience, freshness and, ultimately, quality in an exciting finish and won 32:29, thus taking 1st place in the group 7 qualifiers for the European Championship in Germany.
"Lions" have a lot to regret, because in an incredible atmosphere they had a phenomenal one Nebojša Simić, a five-goal advantage in the 1st half, they came back from the deficit in the continuation and got to plus two three times, but they were not calm enough when it came to deciding the winner.
The defeat did not create too many problems, because Montenegro is under the leadership of the then coach Zoran Roganović with convincing victories over Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, practically won placement in Germany, but there were a lot of problems in the game.
Bozo Andjelic started the game, but struggled with the defense of Slovenia, perhaps with the tactical ideas of the new coach Government of the School, Radojica Čepić had a small playing time, a Miloš Vujović was too nervous, which is why he received a red card in the 28th minute.
By the way, maybe the wrong moment was chosen to "skip" Marko Weasel and sent an invitation to a 25-year-old from Nikšić To Luka Radović, who presided over the entire match on the bench.
If the team included his nine-year-old compatriot, who was excellent at the World Cup, he might have gotten a chance instead of the new captain. Mirko Radović, because he shot from play 3-1...
Sola was not in the team Miloš Božović, who came to the rally, but was unable to play due to an ankle injury.
In relation to the World Cup, there was not even a captain Vasko Ševaljevića (he said goodbye to the national team) and experienced Stevan Vujović, so of the five left backs who were in Krakow, "the book fell on two letters" - Čepić and Vasilija Kaluđerović. There was also a young man Arsenije Dragasevic, but he remained chained to the bench.
The new selector wants to play faster handball, that's why he inserted a 24-year-old from Cetinje into the starting line-up, who showed that he can be seriously counted on. In the finish, probably due to fatigue, he made some mistakes that could have been avoided.
Precisely on the wings of Kaluđerović and Miloš Vujović, as well as phenomenal fans, Montenegro got off to a great start and forced Zorman to take a time-out in the 7th minute with the score 6:2. The Slovenians then played better in defense, getting closer to 6:5, but the answer was the right one, so Kaluđerović scored a plus five in the 17th minute (10:5).
The guests are, however, thanks to the motivated defenders To Aleks Vlach, To Domen Makuc i Jura Dolenac approached at 13:12, and Vujović needlessly pushed away Blaža Janca, which is why he was sent to the stands. Slovenia used that to turn it around at 14:13, in order to Stefan Čavor equalized before the big break.
In the 39th minute, the guests got to two points for the first time (19:17), but they Branko Vujović i Aleksandar Bakić in the 44th minute they turned it to 23:21. It was 24:22 and 25:23, but the "lions" attack was more and more harmless as the match progressed.
Šola played a large part of the match with two left-handed defenders - Branko Vujović and Čavor, but the Slovenians forced them, as well as Kaluđerović and Anđelić, into mistakes with an aggressive game.
In those moments it is also Urban Lesjak defended some very difficult shots, which brought confidence to the visitors, so Makuc returned plus two with three and a half minutes to go (29:27).
Montenegro reduced the score twice, and the match was lost at 29:30 - the Slovenians lost the ball, but no one saw that their goal was empty. Branko Vujović tried to pass the ball to one of his teammates from the jump, but no one saw it, so Janc stole it and allowed Zorman to take a time-out 61 seconds before the end.
His chosen ones quickly moved the ball, which came to the left wing Tilena Kodrina, and he didn't make a mistake and 35 seconds before the end he raised it to an unattainable 31:29. The "Lions" tried to fight back quickly, but they only conceded another goal...
The same rivals will meet in Koper in three days, and Montenegro will be without its biggest asset, Nebojša Simić, who received permission from the coaching staff to return to Germany and attend the birth of his wife.
MONTENEGRO - SLOVENIA 29:32 (14:14)
Podgorica - Hall "Morača". Spectators: 5.000. Referees: Hansen and Madsen (Denmark). Sevens: Montenegro 3 (2), Slovenia 1 (1). Exclusions: Montenegro 6, Slovenia 10 minutes. Red cards: M. Vujović (Montenegro) in the 28th, Henigman in the 38th (3X2) and Novak in the 55th minute (Slovenia).
Montenegro: Matović, N. SIMIĆ (13 saves), Bakić 3, Dragašević, M. VUJOVIĆ 3, Čavor 3, LAZOVIĆ 4, Čepić 1, B. VUJOVIĆ 5 (2), M. RADOVIĆ 1, KALUĐEROVIĆ 5, B. Simić 1, Vujačić 1, L. Radović, ANĐELIĆ 2.
Slovenia: LESJAK (five saves and seven goals), Kastelic (four saves), BLAGOTINŠEK 2, HENIGMAN 1, JANC 4, DOLENEC 3, Cehte 1, KODRIN 2, Zarabec, Žabić, Horžen 1, Mazej, Ovnicek 2, MAKUC 3, Novak 5, Vlah 8 (1).
Ovations at the farewell of Ševaljević and Roganović
Before the start of the match, Vasko Ševaljević and Zoran Roganović officially said goodbye to the national team.
The long-time captain received a framed jersey with the number 21 from the hands of Petr Kapisoda, with whom he already cooperates in the Management Board of RSCG, in which he succeeded Majda Mehmedović.
The longest-serving captain, on the other hand, received a plaque for all that he did during four and a half years, in which the "lions" pushed the boundaries at European and world championships. Fans greeted both with a standing ovation.
Bonus video:
