Right back Jelena Vukčević scored half of her team's goals, helping Montenegro to secure a win against hosts North Macedonia, 26:23, in the last match of the main round at the 2024 IHF Women's Junior World Championship. Thanks to this win, Montenegro finished third in the group and will go to the Placement Matches 9-12, while the hosts will fight in the Placement Matches 13-16. 

MAIN ROUND
GROUP IV
Montenegro vs North Macedonia 26:23 (10:12)

Portugal's win against Iceland a few hours earlier ended North Macedonia's hopes of reaching the main round. However, the home side were determined to end the main round with a win in a 100% Balkan duel, and they enjoyed a perfect start, opening up a 5:0 lead five minutes into the game.

Spurred by a string of saves from Matea Churlinovska, who was named Alkaloid Player of the Match, the hosts went on to dominate, but Montenegro also woke up, and the tournament's top scorer Jelena Vukcevic started to demonstrate her trademark fire power. The unstoppable right back scored a lion's share of her team's, eight out of 10, before the break, helping the Montenegro to cut the gap to just two goals.

After the break, Vukcevic continued to tear North Macedonia's defence apart, and it did not take long for her team to pull in front for the first time, 14:13 in the 36th minute. Montenegro gained momentum, and their other players started to contribute more in attack, so they pulled in front at 20:16 midway through the second half.

Iva Mladenovska, who became North Macedonia's leading scorer in the match with a tally of eight goals, helped her team to slash the gap to one goal, 19:20 and then 20:21. But Montenegro then enjoyed a late 6:1 run, removing all questions about the winner, 26:23, as Vukčević finished the match with 13 goals, improving her overall tally in the competition to 56 goals, 19 more than the second-placed player, Angola's Bernadeth Belo. 

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Matea Churlinovska (North Macedonia)