The "Lions" will enter the second leg in Podgorica, which is scheduled for three days (Sunday, 6pm), with a four-goal advantage, and if they justify their role as favorites, they will face a decisive play-off against Slovenia in May to qualify for the World Cup.
Our national team controlled the match from the start, with fluctuations at the end of the first half and the first half of the second. On the wings of the enthusiastic Stefan Čavor and Luka Radović, with the reliable Nebojša Simić in goal, our team had a four-goal advantage on several occasions during the first half. Radojica Čepić took us to a five-goal advantage for the first time in the 23rd minute (14:9), and then it was 15:10 and 16:11.
However, the finish of the first half belonged to the home team, who played "seven on six", which paid off. Finland caught up, and at the beginning of the second half, a 5:0 run led to a tie – 16:16.
A period of goal-for-goal play followed, with seven consecutive equalizers. Granlund was in high spirits on one side, while Čepić responded on the other. Midway through the second half, after Simić's save and goals by Čepić and captain Branko Vujović, Montenegro took the lead again (25:23).
However, Finland responded with a 3:0 run and took the lead for the first time in the 48th minute (26:25). Branko Vujović then took charge – the “lions” made a 5:0 run and turned the score around to 30:26, with Čepić's eighth goal.
The home team tried to come back through Helander and Henriksen (30:28), but Montenegro maintained control. Goals from Vujović, Radović and Ćorsović gave the team the maximum advantage again (34:29), before Vasilije Kaluđerović set the final score for what seemed to be a peaceful rematch in Podgorica.
Luka Radović was the most efficient with nine goals from the same number of attempts. Radojica Čepć and Branko Vujović each added one less. Stefan Čavor scored five times (four in the first half), while Miloš Vujović and Miodrag Ćorsović scored twice each. Vasilije Kaluđerović and Risto Vujačić scored once each.
Returning player Nebojša Simić was excellent among the goalposts, making 14 saves.
On the other side, Max Granlund led the way with seven goals. Van Troil scored one less goal. Goalkeeper Valinder had 10 successful saves.
SWORD FLOW:
End of the match, Montenegro defeated Finland (36:32) in the first match of the World Cup pre-qualifications. The second leg is on Sunday (6pm) at Bemax Arena.
SECOND HALF:
60′ Great goal by Vasilije Kaluđerović – 32:36.
59′ Eighth goal by Branko Vujović, but Finland strikes back – 32:35.
58′ Van Troil scores from the seven-meter mark, and then Helander scores for minus three – 31:34.
57′ Miodrag Ćorsović scores from the line and returns the maximum plus five – 29:34.
56′ Luka Radović scores another goal into an unguarded net – 29:33. Timeout for the Finnish coach.
56′ New goal by Branko Vujović – 29:32. Five minutes left in the game.
56′ Henrikson scores, Finland is close again – 29:31.
55′ Branko Vujović from the frame of the post for plus three – 28:31.
54′ Henriksen scores from a counterattack, Finland's mini series 2:0 for minus two – 28:30.
53′ Helander breaks Montenegro's streak and reduces to 27:30.
53′ Čepić's eighth goal, sixth in the following period, the "Lions" series 5:0 – 26:30.
52′ Dinara timeout, we can go for the fifth goal in a row.
52′ Branko Vujović scores again, and then Luka Radović scores for a plus three – 26:29.
51′ Fantastic goal by Branko Vujović at the end of the attack – 26:27.
50′ Simić saves another shot, his tenth intervention in the match.
49′ Luka Radović scores to equalize – 26:26.
48′ Finland takes the lead for the first time in the match, Kankanpa's goal for 26:25.
48′ Wainionpa earned a two-minute suspension after a careless tackle on Chavor. We have an attack to take the lead again.
47′ Helander scores an empty net, equalizing again – 25:25.
46′ Van Troil scores from the 7-meter mark, and Aleksandar Bakić is sent off – 24:25.
45′ Very important save by Simić, ninth, second in the continuation, and then Branko Vujović for plus two – 23:25.
45′ Another goal from Čepić, his seventh – 23:24.
44′ Čepić doesn't stop, but the Finns respond quickly – 23:23.
43′ Čavor's first goal in the second half, fifth overall, but Granlund hits back – 22:22. The game is constantly goal-for-goal from 16:16.
42′ Van Troil scores from the wing – 21:21.
42′ Čepić for Radović and the sixth goal from Nikšić – 20:21.
42′ Granlund doesn't let up, his new goal – 20:20.
41′ Luka Radović is safe from the penalty that Čepić previously won – 19:20.
40′ Grandlund doesn't stop, his fifth goal – 19:19.
40′ Čepić's third goal in a row after a great feint and breakthrough – 18:19.
39′ Third equalizer of the match – 18:18.
38′ Another goal from Čepić, he takes responsibility in these moments – 17:18.
37′ Another goal from Grandlund and another equalizer – 17:17.
36′ Čepić breaks the rivals' streak, important goal for Pljevlja – 16:17.
35′ First equalizer of the match, goal by Helander for 16:16.
35′ Finland continues the series (4:0) – Granlund scores for minus one – 15:16.
34′ We've been goalless for over five minutes.
32′ A Finn is sent off for a wrong substitution, and then Branko Vujović doesn't use two attacks in a row, he remains 14:16.
31′ Finland opens the second half with a goal, series 3:0 – 14:16.
31′ The second half has begun.
HALF TIME Vasilije Kaluđerović hit the net, but the referees said the shot was late, and the goal didn't count. After the first half hour we had three goals to spare (13:16). Stefan Čavor and Luka Radović scored four goals each, and Nebojša Simić made seven saves (including a 7-meter shot).
FIRST HALF:
29′ Van Troil scores with a lot of luck, and then Kankanpa – 13:16. Dinara timeout with six seconds left in the first half.
29′ Great action by the "Lions" – Čepić for Vujačić and a zeppelin for – 11:16.
28′ Milorad Bakić was sent off for two minutes, almost until halftime.
27′ In the next two minutes we will have more players, Vujačić forced Vanionpa to be sent off, and Branko Vujović regains the maximum advantage from the line – 10:15.
25′ Van Troil lobs Simić – 10:14. Finland has been playing "seven on six" in the last few attacks.
23′ For the first time in the game we have a five-goal difference after Čepić's goal – 9:14. Timeout for the Finnish coach.
21′ Henrikson scores on one side, Branko Vujović on the other – the first goal of our new captain – 9:13.
20′ Fourth goal by Čavor, restoring a four-goal lead – 8:12.
19′ Benjamin Helander scores from a counterattack for minus three – 8:11.
18′ Simić makes his fifth save, we previously had a seven-meter shot, but we didn't use it.
16′ New goal from Luka Radović in good spirits today – 7:11.
15′ Simić already has four saves, now he "takes off" the shot on the counterattack.
13′ We now respond with two consecutive goals – Radojica Čepić and Luka Radović from a counterattack to return to plus four – 6:10.
12′ Finns' 2:0 run takes them to – 6:8.
11′ Henrikson finds a way to the net, but Miodrag Ćorsović answers – 4:8.
10′ First sending off of the game, Hammarby will take a two-minute break, and Miloš Vujović is once again safe from the penalty spot – 3:7.
10′ Hamarberg reduces to 3:6.
9′ Third goal by Čavor – 2:6.
8′ New goal by Luka Radović – 2:5.
7′ Santer Vaniopa scores from a circle striker position – 2:4.
6′ Simić now "takes off" the seven-meter shot and shows how much he missed it at the last Euro, and then Luka Radović scores on the other side for the first time a three-goal lead – 1:4.
5′ New goal from Čavor for plus two – 1:3.
5′ Fredrik Van Troil scores the first goal for Finland after four and a half minutes – 1:2.
4′ Miloš Vujović uses a seven-meter shot for 0:2.
3′ The home team's attack lasted a long time, Nebojša Simić made the first save on the return.
1′ Stefan Čavor scores the first goal of the match, we are leading 0:1.
1′ The match in Vantaa has started, the first attack for our national team.
17.13 Montenegro and Finland have already met twice in the EHF Euro qualifiers, and our team won both matches. In Podgorica, narrowly 29:28, and in Vantaa, much easier and more convincingly 33:28.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Montenegrin handball team will play against the Finnish team in Vantaa today (5:30 p.m.) in the first qualifying match for the 2027 World Championship.
The rematch between the same rivals will be played in three days (Sunday, 6pm) in Podgorica.
This will be the first challenge for the "lions" after two months and a failure at the European Championship, where they suffered all three defeats (with a goal difference of minus 31) and ended their participation in the group stage.
For the EHF Euro, coach Didije Dinar can count on the goalkeeping duo of Nebojša Simić and Nikola Matović, as well as Aleksandar Bakić. On the other hand, Miloš Božović, Vuk Borozan, Stevan Vujović and Arsenije Dragašević are out injured, while former captain Mirko Radović has ended his international career.
If they are better than the Scandinavians in the upcoming two-legged tie, the "lions" will play against Slovenia in the May play-off, which will be the decisive matches for advancing to the planetary review.
Read the full match announcement HERE.
You can follow the match live in text broadcast on the TV PG Portal.
