Flawless Buducnost sail into main on a high note

Although there was nothing more than pride at stake in this fixture, both teams put in fully committed performances in the last round of the Women’s EHF Champions League Group Matches.

Having secured the group’s top last weekend, Buducnost coach Dragan Adzic gave some of his fringe players more minutes than usual against a spirited Podravka side, who will carry on in the Cup Winners Cup after the winter break.

GROUP B
Buducnost (MNE) vs C Podravka Vegeta (CRO) 32:26 (15:13)

A comfortable win against the group’s bottom team was a fitting end to Buducnost’s preliminary group stage campaign in this season’s EHF Champions League, as the Montenegrin champions rarely needed to get out of second gear against their Croatian rivals.

The result and a sixth straight defeat takes nothing away from the fact that Podravka put in yet another spirited performance.

Their  youthful team, led by evergreen veteran Miranda Tatari, have a bright future if they keep working as hard as they did this term in an incredibly tough section including two of last season’s FINAL4 participants.

The home team’s coach Dragan Adzic rested several key players for long spells but one of his regular starters, Romanian left back Cristina Neagu, pulled the strings and produced a blistering performance garnished by a spectacular in-flight goal midway through the first half.

Podravka held their own for the best part of the contest and were only a goal or two behind most of the time, as Tatari galvanised the Croatian side to keep going even when it was obvious the visitors would come away with nothing more than an honourable defeat from the Moraca Hall.

Buducnost pressed the gas pedal in the closing stages and quickly carved out an insurmountable seven-goal lead (31:24), drawing a standing ovation from their passionate fans at the final whistle and ready to fire on all cylinders when the competition resumes in January.