Phenomenal atmosphere, fanatical "lions" - "Morača", once an impregnable fortress, has been waiting for a long time for a real performance from the Montenegrin handball team. It welcomed this May in a festive atmosphere, but sometimes even that is not enough.
Our national team did not disappoint, coming back from minus seven, taking the lead and for a long time being an equal rival with Slovenia - the team that reached the semi-finals of the last Olympic Games - but in the finish it did not have the strength to perform a miracle.
Montenegro was defeated in the first match of the World Cup play-offs (29:28), the tournament in Germany before the return match in Koper may now seem further away, but after the disappointing European Championship, the boys Didier Dinar Now they can be proud of everything they have shown.
Carried by the great atmosphere in our largest hall and the class of the new captain Branko Vujović and the goalkeeper Nebojsa Simica The "lions" took the lead 1:0 and 2:1, but the "dragons" quickly showed why they are one of the strongest teams in the world.
Montenegro's attack at that moment was devoid of ideas, Dinar tried to change defenders, but there were no real actions for a long time during the first half, nor any passes past the two Slovenian giants. Borut Mačkovšek i Blaža Blagotinšek.
On the other hand, with the team Uroš Zorman everything in those moments in the offensive was running smoothly, phenomenal Blaž Janc inspired the guests' play, and Slovenia quickly took a big 16:9 lead through several nice moves.
When it seemed all was lost, the real reaction came at the end of the first half, after Montenegro had been goalless for five and a half minutes - Stefan Čavor, Luka Radovic i Miodrag Ćorsović They reduced it to 16:12, and "Morača" was boiling again.
The spirit of the old days seemed to have returned, the "lions" showed why they have that nickname, the attack was finally the first, and Radojica Čepić, Corsovic and Milorad Bakić They tightened their defense, so the Slovenian's lively play quickly disappeared.
The guests' advantage was slowly fading, and they scored with Ćorsović (who played his best match in the jersey with the national emblem), Miloš Vujović and Milorad Bakić, and Čepić in the 39th minute gave our national team its first lead since the start (19:18).
The game was goal for goal for a long time, and then our guys' somewhat more aggressive play and somewhat uneven refereeing criteria decided the match - with three goals from the penalty spot. Novak's domain The visitors went up two again (27:25). The Slovenians had a three-goal lead at the end, but the "Lions" played like lions until the end and managed to reduce the lead before the rematch.
The second match will be played on Sunday (17pm) in Koper.
Farewell to the great captain Radović and the great fighter Lazović
Two "lions" who have defended the colors of Montenegro for more than a decade have officially said goodbye to their favorite jersey. The Handball Federation of Montenegro held a farewell ceremony for the team ahead of the match against Slovenia. Mirko Radović, Vuk Lazović, as well as for a physiotherapist Andrija Damjanović.
Former captain Mirko Radović made his debut in 2011 and has appeared in eight major competitions. Pivot Vuk Lazović, who has worn the Montenegro jersey since 2015, was part of the generation that played in five European Championships and the World Cup.
Physiotherapist Damjanović was part of the coaching staff of our national teams for ten years.
MONTENEGRO - SLOVENIA 28:29 (12:16)
Podgorica - "Morača" Hall. Attendance: 5.500. Referees: Horvat and Marton (Hungary). 7-pointers: Montenegro 2 (2), Slovenia 8 (6). Suspensions: Montenegro 6, Slovenia 4 minutes.
Montenegro: Matović (defense and two 7-meter shots), Simić (seven defenses), F. Vujović, Glendža, A. Bakić, M. Vujović 4, Čavor 5, Čepić 3, Ćorsović 7, B. Vujović 6, Vukić, L. Vujović, Vujačić, Pelidija, M. Bakić 1, Radović 2.
Slovenia: Baznik (three saves), Ferlin (seven saves), Blagotinšek 1, Janc 6, Tajnik 1, Jovicič, Kodrin 2, Zarabec, A. Makuc 1, Horžen 5, Cokan 1, Mlivić, D. Makuc, Mačkovšek, Novak 5, Vlah 7.
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