Another drama, another victory won in the last seconds - Montenegrin handball players defeated Serbia 26:25 in the "Bemax Arena" and almost and theoretically secured the 1st place in group 6 qualification for the European Championship.
Unlike the duel in Zrenjanin three days earlier, when Montenegro quickly gained a noticeable advantage, now Serbia was completely in the game from the start.
After the see-saw, the "lionesses" were the first to reach plus two - 7:5 in the 13th minute with three tied goals (Tatjana Brnović, Dijana Mugoša from the sevens and Anastasija Marsenić).
The guests, however, did not give up, they equalized at 11:11 seven minutes before the big break, in the 29th they reached the fifth lead (14:13), and Brnović's fifth goal equalized before going to the locker room.
It was clear that Bojana Popović had to change something, because everything in the 1st half came down to the play of Itana Grbić and Matea Pletikosić with one of the best pivot women in the world.
She tried with Ivona Pavićević on the left wing and Ilda Kepić in defense, but the "lionesses" had a bad start to the second part of the match, missing the first four attacks (two turnovers and Mola Kubina's defense each), before Pletikosić used the seven-pointer for 15: 15.
Unfortunately, the struggles in the attack did not end, so Katarina Bojičić with two tied goals gave Serbia the first plus two in the 37th minute (17:15).
Jelena Despotović didn't do well, which is why Tanja Ivanović entered the game, and with 20 minutes to go, Armel Atingre replaced Marina Rajčić. The goalkeeper of Budućnosti saved Dunja Radević and Jovani Jovović's shots, which further "raised" the decibels in the "Bemax Arena" and pushed the team towards a new lead - 22:21 in the 48th minute.
Uroš Bregar immediately took a time-out, after which his team managed to equalize three times and could have turned the game around with six minutes to go, but Atingre "took off" zicer and Teodori Veličković.
Pavićević scored from the counter, and Pletikosić won a seven-pointer and masterfully used it for 26:24 with three minutes and 49 seconds left.
Bregar spent the last time-out, and his team forced Kepić's exclusion after a long attack. Then Ivona Pavićević grew into a heroine, because with an aggressive start she confused Anđela Janjušević, who sent the ball out and practically "killed" Serbia's last hope for a draw.
Janušević reduced it to 26:25 with 47 seconds left, so Popović took a time-out. Marsenić was supposed to break through with 18 seconds left, but the referees judged that Jovović was improperly building Matea Peltikosić and gave the ball to Montenegro. Bregar received a yellow card due to strong protests, but the decision did not change...
MONTENEGRO - SERBIA 26:25 (14:14)
Podgorica - "Bemax Arena". Spectators: 2.300. Judges: D. Lončar and Z. Lončar (Croatia). Sevens: Montenegro 8 (7), Serbia 2 (2). Suspensions: Montenegro 6, Serbia 6 minutes.
Montenegro: RAJČIĆ (five saves), Atingre (five saves), MARSENIĆ 3, PLETIKOSIC 4 (3), Godeč, MUGOŠA 4 (4), Nada Ćorović, Ujkić, Ivanović 2, Malović, BRNOVIĆ 7, DESPOTOVIĆ 1, Kadović, Pavićević 3, Kepić, GRBIĆ 2.
Serbia: M. Simić, KUBINA (eight saves), RADOSAVLJEVIĆ 5, Veličković 2, Majkić, Obrenović, MANDIC 1, Nuković, JANJUŠEVIĆ 5 (2), Vasić, JOVOVIĆ 5, Stamenić 1, Bojičić 3, RADEVIĆ 2, T. Simić 1, PETROVIĆ.
Bonus video:
