Atomic handball, both rivals' guards down, as many as 81 goals and a great chance that the Montenegrin handball players ultimately failed to take advantage of. It's a shame, because they deserved more this time.
The "Lions" played a great match, scoring 40 goals, leading for a long time during the second half, but in the end they opened the European Championship with a defeat to the group favorite Slovenia - 41:40.
The victory did not come, but the unreal Branko Vujović (11 goals) and his teammates showed that they will have a lot more to show in the rest of the EHF Euro - the Faroe Islands and Switzerland are next.
The match opened with a "showdown" between two masters, Branko Vujović and Blaž Janac, and although Slovenia led from the start, Didije Dinar's team entered the match excellently - primarily thanks to the play of the defenders, and did not give up even several times when Uroš Zorman's team had a plus three.
After Kristjan Horžen's goal, the "lions" were trailing 15:12, and they equalized again after two flying counterattacks by Luka Radović and Branko Vujović (18:18). Dinar's team deserved at least a draw before the break, but the risk of playing without a goalkeeper in the final minutes did not pay off, so Slovenia had a plus one before the decisive 30 minutes.
Our boys did not give up in the second half, or rather they played even better. Branko Vujović continued to score goals against Jože Baznik and Cetinje's Miljan Vujović. He was followed by his namesake Miloš, as well as Stefan Čavor, Filip Vujović and the brilliant Mile Mijušković in goal, so Montenegro was in the lead for a long time.
Our team had a couple of plus twos, and at 32:30 they had a chance to go three goals ahead, but tonight, Radojica Čepić, who was also excellent, did not capitalize on the shot.
Zorman's team returned after that, the game was practically goal for goal for a long time, and then a new unused goal (Milorad Ćorsović) announced the end of the "lions'" hopes - on the other side, Domen Novak scored for 39:37.
Dinar's team might have had a chance to fight for a point, but Borut Mačkovšeg scored from a passive attack for 41:39. After that, there was only time for Branko Vujović to set the final score.
SLOVENIA - MONTENEGRO 41:40 (19:18)
Berum - "Unity Arena". Attendance: 2.000. Referees: Hansen and Madsen (Denmark). 7-pointers: Slovenia 7 (7), Montenegro 5 (5). Suspensions: Slovenia 8, Montenegro 8 minutes.
Slovenia: Baznik (four saves), Vujović (six saves), Henigman, Janc 8, Tajnik, Jovicič, Kodrin 6, A. Makuc 1, Horžen 3, Grmšek, Cokan, Žabić, D. Makuc 9 (2), Mačkovšek 5, Novak 9 (5), Suholežnik.
Montenegro: Suljević (five saves), Mijušković (three saves), F. Vujović 2, M. Vujović 9 (5), Čavor 5, Čepić 4, Ćorsović 2, B. Vujović 11, M. Radović, Kaluđerović, S. Vujović 1, L. Vujović 1, Vujačić, Bakić, L. Radović 2, Borozan 3.
Branko Vujović scored his 11th goal, but the match was lost (41:40). It's a shame, the "Lions" deserved more.
Too bad - Mačkovšeg hits it, now the match is over (41:39).
With 54 seconds left, Slovenia has an attack, Zorman calls a timeout. The "Lions" must defend themselves.
Slovenia could have gone up by three points and practically decided the match, but Mile Mijušković's excellent defense kept Montenegro's hopes alive.
In the continuation of the action, Montenegro won a 7-meter throw, and Miloš Vujović made no mistake (40:39). There was one minute and ten seconds left.
Mačkovšek was also sent off, and Miloš Vujović scored a new goal from the penalty spot (39:38).
Too bad - Ćorsović didn't use the shot, after which Slovenia scored on an empty net for a two-goal lead (39:37).
Less than five minutes left, and Montenegro will have to play the next 120 seconds without Branko Vujović, who was sent off after stopping the ball with his foot.
Slovenia leads again - 38:37.
Nice action by the Slovenians, then Filip Vujović's response - it's still a draw, an atomic 37:37 in Oslo.
An important goal by Čavor, and then Ćorsović's empty-net goal - the game was tied with six minutes left (36:36).
Another mistake by Borozan, Slovenia leads again through Kodrin (35:34).
There are eight minutes left in the game. Montenegro could have gone up by two more points, but Baznik stopped Borozan's shot. On the other side, Kodrin tied the score at 34:34 with a nice goal.
Dinar calls a timeout.
Montenegro's new lead - there's also a goal by Filip Vujović (34:33).
A clean 10 for Branko Vujović, his tenth goal coming with a player less, Montenegro leads 33:32.
Slovenia returns with two goals and a player more (32:32).
A nice goal from Luka Vujović also arrives, so Mile Mijušković made a save, and Miljan Vujović stopped Čepić's shot for three points. The score remains 32:30, but the Lions continue to fight for a big victory.
The ninth goal in the match was scored by the phenomenal Branko Vujović (31:29).
Miloš Vujović is cold-blooded from the seven-meter line, the "Lions" are again plus two (30:28).
Ćorsović was sent off, but the unreal Branko Vujović first forced the referees to send off Kodrin as well, and then with another bomb he brought Montenegro a new lead (29:28).
Montenegro made excellent use of the last seconds of the attack with a player more - Čepić won the 7-meter shot, and Miloš Vujović was sure of the penalty, the "Lions" lead 28:27.
Bonus video:
