Skopje win another thriller

As Sävehof IK took their first points of this VELUX EHF Champions League season thanks to a victory against Bosna Sarajevo, Metalurg Skopje have increased their cushion for reaching the Last 16 by beating Orelen Wisla Plock in a dramatic encounter. With now five points they overtook the Polish champions and rank second currently – ahead of Plock and Koper.

Group A:

Sävehof IK (SWE) – Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo (BIH) 24:20 (13:11)

More than 2000 spectators in Gothenburg cheered for the first points of the Swedish champions this season. Sävehof is now ahead of Bosna, a team which is still waiting for their first success. Six goals of Schefvert paved the way for the Swedes.

After a 5:2 lead at the very beginning, Sävehof had problems to stop the Bosnians. After the equalizer (7:7) Bosna went on to 11:10, before Sävehof scored three straight goals.

The second half then was a clear matter for the host. After the 17:12 Sävehof had no problems to control the match and the opponent.

Group C:

HK Metalurg (MKD) – Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 31:27 (17:10)

Metalurg Skopje scored a dramatic victory against Orlen Wisla Plock to gain five points before the mini-break in the VELUX EHF Champions League. FYR Macedonian champions beat Wisla with 31:27 in front of 6000 spectators in the Boris Trajkovski hall, but it wasn't an easy win.

Thanks to nine saves of Darko Stanic and seven goals of Naumce Mojsoski, Metalurg took a seven goal lead after the first 30 minutes and it looked like there will be no drama after they made it a nine goal margin in minute 33. But in the upcoming 20 minutes, Wisla cut the hosts' lead to just one goal. The crucial moment in the finish of the match happened in the minute 57, when goalkeeper Petre Angelov saved Nikola Eklemovic's penalty, after which Metalurg scored three goals in a row to seal the victory.

Naumce Mojsoski was the best scorer in the host team with 12 goals, while Eklemovic and Kavas scored five goals for Wisla.

Statements after the match:

Lino Cervar (coach Metalurg): In the first half we played perfect, but during the break I told my players that nothing is over yet. We had to recognize that this was true. Emotions were too strong in the second half and that's why we didn't play with clear heads, but I'm happy how we reacted in the final stage.

Lars Walther (coach Wisla): Metalurg won well-deserved. I am very disappointed how we played in the first half. We started to play as we usually do in the next 30 minutes but then we missed the crucial fast break. I have a feeling that we could have gone home with a better result.