When it was the hardest, when there was no room for error, and all after the heaviest defeat in history, the Montenegrin women's handball team showed how good they can be, they played one of the most memorable matches...
The "Lionesses" crushed Serbia in the last match of the group stage (33:17) and now there are about two and a half hours left to wait for the answer as to whether Germany will continue with its great games and whether it will open the door to the quarterfinals for our national team, something that Đurđina Jauković and her teammates deserve.
If the host team defeats Spain or reaches a point, the "Lionesses" will play in the quarterfinals, and will be among the top eight in the world.
Everything that has adorned Montenegro over the years was visible now in the "Westfalenhalle" in Dortmund - a steely defense, an excellent attack, unity, and even attractions against a powerless rival who could barely find a way to the goal, against whom our national team recorded its ninth victory in the 11th match in history.
All of Suzana Lazović's girls were great - Matea Pletikosić was flawless (7/7), Dijana Trivić was elusive (nine goals), but once again the unreal Armel Atingre stood out, making 16 saves and knocking down two 7-meter shots.
And, when Atingre has a good day, even much stronger teams than Serbia have a hard time scoring against Montenegro.
Our goalkeeper saved the first six shots of the game, which the other "lionesses" took advantage of to open the match with a 5:0 lead. Both wings, Dijana Trivić and Nina Bulatović, scored, as well as Matea Pletikosić, Đurđina Jauković, and Tatjana Brnović.
The first time our national team's net shook only after almost eight and a half minutes, and after that until the break the score mainly ranged from plus three to plus five for Montenegro. Atingre also managed to shake the net from their own half, and the lead before the break could have been even greater than 13:9 if there had not been unnecessary mistakes and two missed seven-meter throws.
If that advantage didn't come, it did from the first minute of the second half - Dijana Trivić was too fast for the Serbian players, Montenegro again made a run like at the beginning (17:11), but this time they didn't let up on the gas.
The advantage grew steadily until the end, it was 25:13 and 28:14, until the final 33:17.
The "Lionesses" did what they had to do in the right way, now they're rooting for Germany.
MONTENEGRO - SERBIA 33:17 (13:9)
Dortmund - "Westfalenhalle". Attendance: 5.500. Referees: Amar Konjičanin and Dino Konjičanin (Bosnia and Herzegovina). 7-pointers: Montenegro 5 (3), Serbia 6 (3). Suspensions: Montenegro 10, Serbia 6 minutes.
Montenegro: Škerović, Atingre 1 (16 saves and two 7-meter shots), M. Marsenić (one 7-meter shot saved), A. Marsenić 1, Jauković 3, Pletikosić 7, Godeč 1, Trivić 9, Džaferović, Vukčević 4, Božović, Brnović 2, Bulatović 5, Tatar, Pavicevic, Grbić.
Serbia: Ilić (two saves), Risović (three saves and a 7-meter shot), Petković (two saves), Radosavljević 1, Krpež-Šlezak 1, Lazić, Agbaba, Janjušević 1, Kocić, Jovović 2, Skrobić 3, Veličković, Radević 1, Cvijić 5, Vukajlović, Garović 1.
THE END, a big and important victory for the "Lionesses" (33:17), now we await news from the match Germany - Spain (18pm).
There are still three minutes left, but Montenegro has long since settled this match and shown how good it can be - 31:15.
Arguably Montenegro's best match at the World Cup, another goal by Jelena Vukčević (28:14).
Ivana Godeč also scored, followed by Jelena Vukčević - for the new biggest lead (25:13).
Another great match at the World Cup for Dijana Trivić - our left winger scores his eighth goal, Montenegro leads 23:13.
The "Lionesses" have allowed only 13 goals to Serbia in the past 45 minutes.
Once again at this World Cup, young Marija Marsenić came in to try to save a 7-meter shot and she succeeded, after which Matea Pletikosić and Dijana Trivić took Montenegro to plus 10 (21:11).
However, new goals from Dijana Trivić and Nina Bulatović, as well as Atingra's defense, arrive, and our team goes to 19:11.
Montenegro unnecessarily risked an empty-net attack, so Serbia scored two easy goals (17:11).
Serbia can't score even with two more players - Atingre made her 12th save.
Once again, Dijana Trivić is too fast for the Serbian defense, Montenegro is ahead 17:9.
Another goal from Dijana Trivić for a big plus seven (16:9), forcing Jose Ignacio Prades to call a timeout again very early.
The second half also had a great start - Atingre defended and "threw" for a counterattack by Dijana Trivić. After that, Đurđina Jauković scored for the biggest lead since the beginning of the match (15:9).
The first half is over, very good for our national team - Montenegro, led by Armel Atingre, leads 13:9 against Serbia.
Two more goals by Matea Pletikosić, then a counterattack completed by Nina Bulatović after an assist from Dijana Trivić, Montenegro - Serbia 13:8.
Atingre arrives to score - Montenegro is up five again (10:5).
Jelena Vukčević first scored from the seven-meter throw for 9:5, after which she did not take another penalty - neither did Đurđina Jauković earlier.
Another goal by Nina Bulatović, Montenegro maintains the lead (8:4).
Serbia reduced the deficit to minus three, but Matea Pletikosić scored a great goal for 7:3.
Montenegro conceded the first goal after almost eight and a half minutes, scored by Jovana Jovović, but Jauković quickly responded with another goal (6:1).
Bonus video:
