EHF EURO 2018
Main Round, Group II.
Varazdin Arena
FYR Macedonia arrived at this encounter as favorite and they started the match according to this, leading 6-2, 7-4, 9-6 and winning the first half 13-11. In the last minutes of the first half, Czech Republic made a strong comeback, showing to the Macedonians that won’t be easy to take the victory here.
The second half started shay for the Czechs, Macedonia increased the lead 15-11, 18-13, 20-15 and it seemed like the team of Raul Gonzalez will take a comfortable victory in this game as they planned. But Kasparek, Horak, and Mrkva did not agree on this and after being led by five goals the Czech team managed to fight back 22-20, with ten minutes left in the game. One of the best players of the match, right back Stanislav Kasparek leveled the game at 23-23, and at the same time the Czech defense worked in a brilliant cooperation with the goalkeeper, Macedonians had quiet long goalless periods. The Czech team took the lead for the first time in the match at 23-24 (57.minute) and they had now, real chances to collect two points, Macedonia managed to equalize due to a youngster, Velkovski, but Kasparek netted again 24-25. Dramatic minutes followed as Macedonians ran on a fastbreak and Manaskov scored, but Russian referees chose to use video-referee because this situation was very chaotic. Following the video, it has to be 7 meter for Macedonia, but Manaskov failed as Mrvka took his team to heaven. Final result:
FYR Macedonia – Czech Republic 24 – 25 (13 – 11)
Goals:
FYR Macedonia – Manaskov 3, Velkovski 4, Stojlov 4, Lazarov 2(2), Talevski 5, Mirkulovski 4, Georgievski 1, Peshevski 1
Czech Republic – Hrstka 4(4), Horak 8, Kasparek 6, Slakhta 1, Zdrahala 4, Cip 2,
Suspensions: 4 minutes; 10 minutes
7 meters: 4/2; 4/4
Player of the match: Pavel Horak (CZE)
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