Montenegro proceed to the main round and send Chile into President’s Cup

16 Jan. 2023

Montenegro proceed to the main round and send Chile into President’s Cup

Going into their final preliminary group A clash, Chile knew only a win would do and some maths on the way, while a draw was enough for Montenegro.

In just their second IHF Men’s World Championship, the Europeans had gone into the match as favourites, but Chile pushed them all the way, with the result unknown until the final second.

Group A

Montenegro vs Chile 35:33 (20:18)

Chile’s Javier Frelijj had told ihf.info after their loss to Spain on Saturday (14 January) about the frustration of his team not being able to play at a high level for 60 minutes and promised that “…we will do better in the next match.”

They certainly did today, pushing Zoran Roganović’s side all the way up to the final few seconds until a Branko Vujović buzzer-beater ensured a Montenegrin victory.

The South American side had led early and it took Montenegro until the sixth minute to draw level (4:4). Then, they pushed ahead less than a minute later, starting a 5:0 scoring run which saw Chile coach Aitor Etxaburu take a time out (7:4, ninth minute).

The lead was extended further (12:8, 17th). Still, at the 22nd-minute mark, Montenegro’s Nemanja Grbović was shown a direct red card after the use of the video-proof system for an elbow to the face of Chilean defender Danilo Salgado. This incident saw Grbović fall awkwardly.

The Montenegrin line player received medical treatment before leaving the court and was seen later with heavy strapping and ice on his right shoulder.

Montenegro were unsettled and Chile exploited this to draw level (13:13, 23rd). This prompted a Montenegro time-out, which only served to keep the status quo (16:16, 25th).

But moments of inspiration can affect a team. When Božo Anđelić intercepted a pass intended for a flat-footed Erwin Feuchtmann, resulting in a Montenegro goal, it helped stop the Chilean ascendancy.

Despite coming back again (18:18, 29th), Montenegro, led by a deadly attacking line from Miloš Vujović (who would end on 12 goals), leapt back into action to take a quick couple and go into the break two goals up.

The disappointment of Chile was evident as the players trudged off for half-time, and with 10 minutes of the match remaining, there was still daylight between them and the Europeans (27:29).

An Emil Feuchtmann two-minute suspension unravelled any potential comeback, with the left-back sitting out a crucial period leading up to the final five minutes.

Montenegro kept their three-goal advantage going into the last 60 seconds (34:31), but a pair of unanswered goals from the South Americans made for a nervous final 18 seconds as Montenegro paused to regroup.

That time out saw a passionate speech from Esteban Salinas and assistant coach Claudio Lira, but Montenegro came out with a final blow to end the hopes of the Chileans for another two years.

After the match, Chilean captain Rodrigo Salinas spoke passionately with coach Etxaburu for a few minutes, allowing his players to digest what had just happened.

“We were really motivated for this match after losing to Iran, but it didn’t come off this time, but we will continue to play for the best position in this championship and for the future of Chile,” said Chile’s Víctor Donoso. 

“Montenegro played a really good system and it was hard for our defence. But with their long-distance shooting and their pivot, they matched us a lot.”

hummel Player of the Match: Miloš Vujović (Montenegro)