Play-off matches, WCh 2017-France
Serbia- Hungary 25 – 26 (8 – 13)
Topscorers: Petar Nenadic(SRB) 10 goals and Tamás Iváncsik (HUN) 6 goals
After absenting from the last World Championship the two teams had real motivation in this first match of the playoffs.
Serbia with a young team, without Momir Ilic, Marko Vujin or Ratko Stoljkovic tried to stop Hungary. Hungarians led by Xavi Sabaté in the headcoach position had a line up with the biggest names as Nagy, Mikler, Fazekas, the Iváncsik-brothers, Schuch, Ilyés Császár or Lékai.
The experience seemed to bring the advantage for guests, Hungary was in solid lead during the first half and won this by 8-13-
In the next thirty minutes Hungary increased the lead to 10-18, and Serbia seemed to be outplayed, but fifteen minutes before the end the young Serbian team managed to make a 3-0, than a 10-1 and overturn the result 20-19.
The mathc become exciting, a close race in the last five minutes, where the experienced Hungarian players managed to pull in the victory, 25-26.
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