The atmosphere of our largest hall did not help the Montenegrin handball players achieve triumph this time either, but unlike the previous matches with Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy, the duel with Hungary showed the old desire and passion of the "lions".
Our national team suffered its first defeat in the European Championship qualifiers - Didier Dinar's men never gave up, but this time the better rival was a team that was just a second away from the World Cup semi-finals, 29:26, in the M:tel "Morača" hall.
There should be no worries about going to EHF Euro 2026 as Montenegro has already achieved two key victories against Finland and Slovakia.
The "Lions" were a bit uncertain in attack at the start of the game, Hungary was leading 2:0 and 3:1, but Nebojša Simić's defenses brought "Morača" to its feet, as well as his teammates.
Radojica Čepić scored to make it 3:3, after that it was practically goal for goal, and at 7:7 our national team had a chance to take the lead for the first time, but Aleksandar Bakić's lob from the wing was "taken down" by Krištof Palašič.
If Didier Dinar's men had been more confident in the penalty shootout situations against Palašič, the result in the first half would have been more favorable than minus two (14:12).
At that moment, Ćemo Rodríguez's team, led by the brilliant pivot Mikloš Rošta (the even better Bence Benhidi did not arrive), reached a three-goal lead, and Čepić kept the "lions" in the game with brilliant goals, assists and defensive play.
And when everything was expected to improve after the break, the "lions" entered the second half poorly, and Hungary quickly "flew away" to a big 18:12.
Dinar's team didn't give up then, but things got tougher when Čepić earned a red card, which seemed too harsh after a duel with Zoltan Sit.
Montenegro tried, Luka Radović had a counterattack to take the "lions" to minus three, but he failed, after which the Hungarians made another big run and went to 27:20.
The "lions" did not give up even then, Montenegro's best period followed - driven by the roar of the fans and the energy from Nikola Matović's goal, they reached 27:25, and even had an attack for minus one, but a new mistake took away their last hope...
Montenegro will play its next match against the same rival in four days in Tatabanja.
MONTENEGRO - HUNGARY 26:29 (12:14)
Podgorica - "Morača" Hall. Attendance: 5.000. Referees: Leščinjski and Pjehota (Poland). 6-pointers: Montenegro 6 (6), Hungary. Suspensions: Montenegro 4, Hungary 37 minutes. Red card: Čepić (Montenegro) in the XNUMXth minute.
Montenegro: Matović (two saves), Simić (eight saves), F. Vujović, Bakić 3, Dragašević, Čavor 2, Čepić 5, Ćorsović 3, B. Vujović 6 (2), M. Radović 1, Kaluđerović 1, S. Vujović 1, Vujačić, L. Radović 4 (4), L. Vujović, Pelidija.
Hungary: Palasic (17 saves), Bartuc, Sipos 1, Boka 4, Krakovsky, Ligetvari, Pap, Gyori, Tot, Fazekas 4, Sita 3, Bodo 1, Rosta 9, Lekai 1, Onodi-Janoskuti 3, Imre 3.
Bonus video:
