04.02.2017, 05:51
Buducnost too strong for Astrakhanochka

GROUP 1 REVIEW: Buducnost redeem themselves from the loss against Vardar last week by cruising past Astrakhanochka in Russia

Buducnost too strong for Astrakhanochka

Following a home defeat against HC Vardar, it was essential for Buducnost to claim two points in Astrakhan. The Montenegrin team did so emphatically, smashing the Russian champions by 13 goals in Group 1 of Round 2 Women's EHF Champions League Main Round.

• Buducnost have eight points after the victory

• Astrakhanochka suffered their seventh straight defeat in the EHF Champions League

• Cristina Neagu scored eight times for Buducnost; Karina Sabirova scored seven goals for Astrakhanochka

Astrakhanochka (RUS) vs Buducnost (MNE) 21:34 (9:18)

As both teams started the EHF Champions League Main Round with defeat, they were similarly looking for redemption. But it was apparent that the sides were not equally matched- with a debutant of the Europe’s top flight competition playing against a proven European powerhouse.

Buducnost fully focused

Prior to the game, Buducnost’s head coach Dragan Adzic warned his players against complacency, stating that Astrakhanochka play much better at home than away. Although there some truth in this assertion, the Russian champions still struggle at this level. This defeat against Buducnost is their seventh in a row in the EHF Champions League.

The young and lively team from Astrakhan played with passion and commitment, but even this couldn’t help them against the Balkan powerhouse.

Astrakhanochka only matched their rivals in the early stages of the game, and were down by just one goal after five minutes (4:3). After this Buducnost started to increase the gap, and their superiority was beyond doubt at half time (18:9).

Sabirova got a red card

As in their match against Vardar, Buducnost played without the injured Milena Raicevic and Durdin Malovic. On top of this, the line player Suzana Lazovic injured her calf and did not fly to Astrakhan. While Biljana Novovic recovered and was included in the roster, she did not play in the end- perhaps as a precaution to avoid re-injury.

Unlike last weekend, Katarina Bulatovic had an excellent game and finished with seven goals. Her teammate Cristina Neagu found the net eight times.

The hosts’ Karina Sabirova got a red card in the second half, nevertheless, she remained the teams’ top scorer with seven goals.

Buducnost dominated throughout the second half and only seemed to relax their pace in the last ten minutes. Now the team from Podgorica have eight points in Group 1, while Astrakhanochka stay on zero points.

Mikhail Seregen, Astrakhanochka's head coach, noted his teams weaknesses, but was pleased by the performance of his younger players in the second half: "We had a lot of unrealized long-range shots. Also a lot of goals conceded from counterattack.. Since the game was virtually decided in the first half, in the second half we were given an opportunity to prove our young players in the game with a very serious and strong opponent. And in my opinion, they have done well." 

TEXT: Sergey Nikolaev/kc