Slovenia overcome Serbian test

21 Jul. 2019

Slovenia overcome Serbian test

Slovenia came from behind to beat Serbia in this regional derby at Spain 2019 to ensure they kept the pressure on hosts Spain to beat Japan later tonight and set up a table-topping clash on Monday.

GROUP A
Serbia vs Slovenia 28:30 (15:16)

Serbia came close to getting a win against Slovenia which could have kept them in contention of winning preliminary group A, but just like before the half-time break, at the end Slovenia did just enough at the right time to ensure they got maximum points, putting the pressure on the only other team who can challenge them to the group title – Spain.

Ahead of the game it was clear that Serbia would need to control the amount of two-minute suspensions received, part of their downfall against Spain in their last match, and they managed to do that which ensured a healthy contest that saw only a two-goal difference between the two rivals once in the first half (9:7 to Slovenia, 14th minute).

A lack of aggression from either defence ensured this steady stream of goals as the vocal and animated Marko Vignjevic led his Serbian side into the last minute of the opening period with a 15:14 lead, thanks to a Srdan Mijatovic full court strike into an unguarded Slovenian net, but Sasa Prapotnik's side had other ideas about going into the break behind and turned the game around.

Firstly, Gregor Ocvirk scored from the seven metre line after a Vignjevic foul and following a Serbian turnover, Tim Rozman received the ball in defence in the dying seconds and, knowing he had just moments left, sprinted at full power down the court to sink home and put his Slovenia side ahead by one, causing looks of disbelief from their Serbian opponents who had been in the lead less than 60 seconds earlier.

Such moments of skill, concentration and sheer will to win are what can make the difference between winning a medal or not and the European champions Slovenia look like they are already well on their way to another one again.

Todor Jandric ended the half with seven saves while Ocvirk, on his way to a best player of the match performance, scored five times from six attempts.

Most of the second half followed the same pattern and with Slovenia 28:27 ahead in the 55th minute, Boris Rojevic called a time out for his Serbian team to settle them ahead of an equalising score, but Jovica Nikolic mishandled and Slovenia grabbed the opportunity to go two ahead (29:27) thanks again to Rozman.

Vignjevic suffered bad luck when his shot hit the crossbar in the next Serbian attack and both sides then knew the contest was over as the game entered the final moments.

Best Player of the Match: Gregor Ocvirk (SLO)