Vardar return to winning ways

HC Vardar bounced back after their painful defeat against Veszprém in the last round of the VELUX EHF Champions League to earn a 32:30 win against IFK Kristianstad. With everything to play for, Kristianstad could only keep Vardar in check for 40 minutes. The superior Macedonian side rode their depth and experience to win.

• Kristianstad must win against Brest in the last round to progress to the next phase, but both Montpellier and Brest must lose tomorrow
• The Swedish side lost their fourth consecutive game in the EHF Champions League
• It was Vardar’s eighth win from eight matches against Kristianstad
• Vardar secured at least third place in the group, but they are still in the hunt for second place in a battle against Veszprém

GROUP A

IFK Kristianstad (SWE) vs HC Vardar (MKD) 30:32 (17:16)
 
It was a heartbreaking loss for Vardar in Match of the Week in Round 12 against Veszprém, but there was no time to dwell on the past for the Macedonian side. Vardar retained a theoretical chance of finishing in second place in Group A, but more pressingly, a win against Kristianstad would secure at least third place for them.
 
However, as it was also the last chance for Kristianstad to play for a Last 16 berth, a tough game ensued with five lead changes in the first half. Vardar missed left back Vuko Borozan once again due to injury and his absence was there to be seen, and playmaker Emil Hansson scored twice to help the hosts jump to a 6:4 lead.

Slovenian playmaker Stas Skube was pivotal for Vardar’s attack, as he scored four times and assisted his teammates, yet the Macedonian side found themselves behind, 17:16, after Kristianstad left back Olafur Andres Gudmundsson scored five times in the first half.

However, Vardar had the experience and depth on their side, as Timur Dibirov started to play better and better, helping the guests lead 23:21 after 42 minutes. With their shot efficiency plummeting from an astonishing 73% in the first half to 60% in the second half, Kristianstad saw the prospect of a win fading.
 
The game was decided as a battle between the two sharpshooters – Gudmundsson and Dainis Kristopans from Vardar – and the Latvian giant scored three times between the 42nd and 50th minute to secure a 28:24 lead for Vardar.
 
A late burst from Norwegian right back Stin Tore Moen Nilsen was not enough for Kristianstad to comeback. Vardar scored again through Kristopans – Vardar’s best scorer, with eight goals - to earn the 32:30 win.

Post-match statements

Roberto Garcia Parrondo, HC Vardar coach: “We are very happy with this win and getting these two points. We knew that it would be a very tough game, Kristianstad always plays well at home. We are happy with the way we played in the attack, but we made too many mistakes in the back.”

Christian Dissinger, HC Vardar left back: “We did not play good in the first half. We did not come up to the level of play that we are used to. But in the second half we took the game up a couple of steps and got a three-goal lead. In the end we missed some shots, but we got the two points and that is all that matters.”

Lars Olsson, IFK Kristianstad: “We are happy with the performance and we had a much better attitude then against Barca, but it’s still disappointing that we don’t get any points today. Vardar are one of the best teams in this tournament and we went head to head for forty minutes. After that, their goalkeeper did a couple of important saves that won the game for them.”

Emil Hansson, IFK Kristianstad centre back: “We are happy with the attitude and speed that we play with today but are very upset that we didn’t get any points. We played pretty good defence, but in the second half they scored too many goals from the pivot position. But at the end they were the better team and their goalkeeper made some good saves in the second half to win the game for them.”