METALURG COMEBACK SEALS VICTORY AGAINST ELVERUM

HC Metalurg were chasing a deficit for most of the first half as well as the start of the second, but overcame the setback to win 22:19 at home against Elverum on Saturday in Group D of the VELUX EHF Champions League.

GROUP D

HC Metalurg (MKD) vs Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR) 22:19 (10:12)

Metalurg doubled their number of points and took their second win in succession, as they defeated Elverum by three goals in the Boris Trajkovski Sports Centre on Saturday.

However, it took the Macedonian hosts a long time to get the upper hand against their Norwegian opponents.

Metalurg´s 3-2-1 defence caused Elverum´s attack problems from the start, but at the other end of the court, Elverum´s goalkeeper Morten Nergaard caused the Metalurg shooters just as much trouble behind a movable 6-0 defence.

Elverum were leading by a goal or two most of the first half, and they even opened the last 30 minutes by going three goals ahead, but the visitors did not hold on to the lead.

Spurred on by their inventive Croatian playmaker Luka Mrakovcic, the hosts only needed 10 minutes to change a 13:10 deficit into a 17:14 lead.

Mrakovcic said, "We all gave our max in every moment of the game but the defensive display decided the winner. Now we will celebrate a little and than we prepare ourselves for the next game."

Metalurg also went four goals up at 19:15, but Elverum hung on, and it was only when another Croatian, right back Marko Buvinic made it 21:17 with two minutes to go, that the match was finally decided.

The Metalurg coach, Lino Cervar, said, "We have two victories in two home games and we are looking ahead now.

"All of my players gave their best, but the defence decided the game, especially in the second half when we got better and better on our side of the court."

Left wing Bojan Madjovski was the top scorer for Metalurg with six goals, the same number that Serbian playmaker Luka Mitrovic reached for Elverum.