From the start, the signs were encouraging. Despite leading 4:1, the guests were then forced into two exclusions, which Dragan Adžić‘s team was able to take advantage of. Through Grace Zaadi Deuna and Jovanka Radičević, the Krim team closed the gap to minimal. Tamara Mavsar scored again to make it 4:5, but then there was a shooting stoppage for almost 8 minutes.
At the end of the 18th minute, Betchaidelle Ngombele broke the deadlock and gave her teammates some fresh energy with two goals in a row. With her third goal at the beginning of the 23rd minute, she again made the blue jersey players breathless. But the scales could not be tipped in the home favour again. After half-time, the European Handball Federation’s Match of the Week showed 13:15 in favour of the yellow team.
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The second half saw the Krim women coming out strong, with a huge desire to turn the game around and get two more points. But it didn’t and it didn’t work, and the opponents scored like clockwork. In the 37th minute they were +5, ten minutes later they were +10. The Tigresses tried to get closer with a heartfelt performance to reduce the gap. They managed to do so, but not enough for a complete “miracle” in Arena Stožice. The final score was 25:34.
Adžić’s squad was not able to say goodbye to 2024 with a victory in Arena Stožice, but they will have their final exam next Saturday, 16 November. They will meet Metz at 18:00, then on their home court.
Dragan Adžić, head coach of Krim Mercator: »In the second half, we didn’t believe we could do it. The responsibility is mine and the difference is very high.«
Ana Gros, captain of Krim Mercator: »It’s not easy for us after three defeats in a row. We started the season well, but now we’ve had a slump. We have to find something that we are missing. In the second half, we really lacked it and the gap grew quickly. We didn’t manage to stage a turnaround. I am very disappointed.«
EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, GROUP PHASE, ROUND 7
Sunday, 10th November 2024, at 14.00
RK KRIM MERCATOR : METZ HANDBALL (FRA) 25:34 (13:15)
Krim Mercator: Jurič, Radičević 1, Stanko 1, Gros 4, Zaadi Deuna 4, Mavsar 2, A. Abina, Arenhart, N’Diaye, Vojnovič, Gutierrez Bermejo 1, Varagić 1, Horaček 4, Ngombele 5, Brnović 2, Grbić.
Metz Handball: Valentini 8, Pineau 1, Hansen 2, Axner 4, Augustine, Darleux Mingam, Flippes 3, Mlamali 1, Jacques 2, Bouktit 6, Granier 3, Grandveau 1, Chambertin 1, Szemerey, Vamos 1, Errard 1.
7 meters: Krim Mercator 2/2, Metz Handball 3/4
2-minutes suspensions: Krim Mercator 6 min, Metz Handball 10 min