HC ALKALOID – CHC TIKVESH 35-26 (21-9)

Venue: Avtokomanda in Skopje. Referees: Sasho Krkachev and Gjoko Kolevski. Delegate: Aco Nikolovski

HC ALKALOID: Kizikj, Galevski 1, Trajkoski, Petrov 1, Markoski 2, Mladenovikj, Serafimov 8, Stojkovikj 1, Mitev 1, Gjorgiev 1, Velkovski 3, Bingo 5, Francisco 3, Petkovski 9, Savrevski, Panchevski

Seven-meter throws: 6/7 Suspensions: 10 min.

CHC TIKVESH: Arsic, Anastasovski 3, Temelkoski, Velkov, Sokolov, Andonovski 4, Kofiloski, Dimovski 3, Lazov, Manaskov 2, Gacevic 1, Kocev 3, Letic 2, Krivokapic 6, Danevski, Obina 2

Seven-meter throws: 5/7 Suspensions: 6 min.

HC Alkaloid capped off 2024 with a commanding victory in the derby against CHC Tikvesh, securing their spot at the top of the League standings. In the final round of the calendar year, HC Alkaloid hosted the team from Kavadarci and celebrated a nine-goal triumph.

The match was effectively decided in the first half, where HC Alkaloid dominated from the outset, taking early leads of 10-5 and 12-6. By halftime, the home team had built a commanding 11-goal advantage (21-9).

In the second half, the pace slowed somewhat, leading to a more balanced exchange of goals. HC Alkaloid maintained a lead of nine to ten goals throughout, though the visitors briefly reduced the deficit to six (23-29). Alkaloid responded swiftly, restoring their cushion to finish with a nine-goal margin in favor of the blue-and-whites.

Aleksandar Petkovski and Martin Serafimov led the charge, with Petkovski scoring a match-high nine goals and Serafimov adding eight.

This match concluded HC Alkaloid’s autumn Super League campaign, cementing their position as League leaders. Attention now turns to the senior national team’s participation in the World Championship in Croatia, Denmark, and Norway this January.

HC Alkaloid will resume League play in February, starting with a match against Struga.

HC PRILEP – HC ALKALOID 30-40 (13-18)

Venue: Riste Ristevski Richko in Prilep. Referees: Sashko Krkachev and Gjoko Kolevski. Delegate: Vasil Chavdarov

HC PRILEP: Angeleski, Trenchevski 6, Kastratovikj 2, Rajatovski 2, Adamcheski 3, Bikoski, Ivchevski, Ilieski 5, Organdjiev 2, Burcheski, Cvetanoski 7, Hristoski, Levani, Kvastek 3, Trajkoski, Trajchevski

Seven-meter throws: 4/5 Suspensions: 10 min.

HC ALKALOID: Kizikj, Trajkoski, Djonov 4, Petrov 1, Markoski 1, Mladenovikj 2, Serafimov 2, Stojkovikj 3, Mitev 1, Gjorgiev 5, Velkovski 2, Bingo 3, Francisco 3, Petkovski 9, Savrevski 4

Seven-meter throws: 1/2 Suspensions: 8 min.

HC Alkaloid secured their 14th Super League victory, ensuring they remain firmly atop the standings following the current penultimate round in 2024. The team delivered a commanding 10-goal triumph on the road against HC Prilep in an offensively charged match that saw a total of 70 shots scored.

Coming into the game as firm favorites, led by coach Kiril Lazarov, HC Alkaloid lived up to expectations. They seized control early, jumping to a 7-4 lead and maintaining a comfortable three-to-four-goal cushion throughout the first half. A late surge allowed Alkaloid to extend the advantage to 16-10 before heading into the break with an 18-13 lead.

The second half followed a similar rhythm, with Alkaloid maintaining full control. The gap consistently hovered between six and eight goals before the visitors closed the match with a decisive 10-goal margin (40-30).

Aleksandar Petkovski shined once again, leading all scorers with nine goals, while Igor Gjorgiev added five to the tally.

HC Alkaloid will wrap up the year with a home clash against CHC Tikvesh from Kavadarci. The final round of 2024 is scheduled for December 18 at 17:00 in the Avtokomanda arena.

HC ALKALOID – HC BUTEL SKOPJE 32-24 (16-15)

Venue: Avtokomanda in Skopje. Referees: Nenad Nikolovski and Ismail Metalari. Controller: Dushko Kamishevski

HC ALKALOID: Galevski 3, Trajkoski, Petrov, Markoski, Mladenovikj 2, Serafimov 6, Karasmanakis, Stojkovikj 1, Mitev 4, Gjorgiev 1, Velkovski 2, Simonoski 3, Bingo 4, Francisco, Petkovski 5, Savrevski 1

Seven-meter throws: 5/7 Suspensions: 10 min

HC BUTEL SKOPJE: Blazhevski, Subashevski, Todeski 1, Gjeorgievski 6, Nikolov 9, Stojanoski, Spasovski 1, T. Uzunchev 3, Kiselovski, Boshkovski, Nikolovski, Mihajlovikj, Cvetkovski, Sopic 4, Davitkovski

Seven-meter throws: 3/8 Suspensions: 14 min

HC Alkaloid continued its winning streak in what have traditionally been challenging encounters against HC Butel Skopje, securing its 13th Super League win of the season out of 14 matches played. This victory also marked their 18th triumph in 17 official matches since the season’s start.

The visitors came out determined, even taking an early lead and keeping pace with the hosts throughout much of the first half. Our team responded with determination, however, taking control of the match in the first half and heading into the break with a narrow one-goal edge.

Alkaloid asserted its dominance more strongly in the second half, establishing a lead of up to nine goals at times. They concluded match with a decisive 32-24 victory.

This victory sees HC Alkaloid reclaim the top spot in the League standings. The team faces two more challenges before the end of 2024—an away clash with HC Prilep and a home showdown against CHC Tikvesh.

After an impressive four-game winning streak in the knockout rounds against Klaipeda Dragunas in the second round and West Wien in the third, HC Alkaloid has earned a spot in the Round of 16 of the EHF European Cup.

In the draw for this stage, HC Alkaloid has been paired with Italy’s SSV Brixen. The two-leg encounter, scheduled for February, will determine which team advances to the EHF European Cup quarterfinals.

Our next opponent has over 50 years of history in handball, with notable achievements including two Italian Serie A championship titles and three Italian Cup victories. On the European stage, they have participated 11 times including the current season, with their highlight being a semi-final appearance in the Challenge Cup during the 2000/2001 season.

Last season, Brixen reached the EHF Cup Round of 32 but fell to eventual finalist Olympiacos in back-to-back matches in Athens.

The team includes three foreign players and three athletes with dual citizenship: Ukrainian goalkeeper Maksym Voliuvach, Argentinian Tomas Valentin Canete, and Brazilian back Paulo Vinicius de Oliveira Candido. Pivot Andrea Basic also holds Croatian citizenship, while the duo Endrit and Ardian Iballi also hold Kosovan citizenships.

The team is led by head coach Rudolf Neuner, who stepped in this season to replace Serbian coach Davor Cutura.

Two Brixen players, left wing Stefano Arcieri and pivot Endrit Iballi, are on the extended roster for Italy’s senior national team, while goalkeeper Alessandro Lubinati is part of the junior team.

This season, SSV Brixen eliminated H71 from the Faroe Islands in the second round. In the third round, they pulled off an upset against higher-ranked Czech side Lovosice in two matches played in the Czech Republic.

The Round of 16 matches are set for February 15/16 and 22/23. HC Alkaloid will play the first leg away.

HC ALKALOID – HC EUROFARM PELISTER 32-25 (16-12)

Hall: Avtokomanda in Skopje. Referees: Gjorgji Nachevski and Slave Nikolov. Delegates: Marjan Nachevski and Aco Nikolovski

HC ALKALOID: Kizikj (8 saves), Galevski (1 save), Djonov, Markoski, Kosteski 5 (2), Mladenovikj, Serafimov 8 (4), Karasmanakis 1, Stojkovikj 2, Mitev 2, Gjorgiev 3, Velkovski 4, Simonoski 1, Bingo 6, Silva, Petkovski

Seven-meter throws: 6/6 Suspensions: 14 min

HC EUROFARM PELISTER: Mitrevski (11 saves), Ivic, Manaskov 3, Cehte, Ristevski 2, C. Kuzmanoski 1, Tajnik, Borzas, Radivojevic 2, F. Kuzmanovski 12 (6), Abutovic, Peshevski 1, Gjorgovski, Hosni 1, Hadzic, Pavle Atanasijevikj 3

Seven-meter throws: 6/7 Suspensions: 8 min.

HC Alkaloid won their eighth straight championship victory in as many matches, a particularly significant one as it was a derby match against the reigning champion, HC Eurofarm Pelister.

HC Alkaloid had already taken down HC Eurofarm Pelister in the season opener, during the Super Cup match, but tonight’s game brought an entirely different pace, flow, and finish.

HC Alkaloid came out strong, with their defense clicking early, opening up a three-goal lead (4-1) just five minutes in. Bitola’s team goalkeeper, national team player Nikola Mitrevski, staved off several attacks shortly after, which the visiting players capitalized on, allowing them to get back into the game.

Nikola Kosteski and Arnaud Bingo led the charge in this phase, and the team quickly regrouped, allowing Pelister only to level the score at 6-6. Alkaloid immediately responded with two goals, taking a new two-goal lead (8-6), with the margin fluctuating between one and two goals for the next ten minutes.

HC Alkaloid played an outstanding match with the team operating at peak collective performance, soon pulling away to a 14-9 advantage. They maintained this gap until the end of the first half, which concluded with a score of 16-12.

The second half saw more of Alkaloid’s stellar teamwork pay off, with their lead extending to six or seven goals as the match settled into a goal-for-goal rhythm. An unfortunate setback struck when Nikola Kosteski had to leave the court in the 38th minute due to injury. But the tempo didn’t dip. HC Alkaloid held their ground, even widening the gap to a maximum eight-goal lead (30-22).

As the clock wound down, the energized crowd cheered HC Alkaloid to a resounding seven-goal victory. This win preserved their two-point cushion atop the league standings. Their next match is scheduled for Saturday in the Lithuanian city of Klaipeda, where they will play the return leg of the second round in the EHF European Cup. The result of the first match was 42-31 for HC Alkaloid.

KIRIL LAZAROV, HEAD COACH OF HC ALKALOID:

“It was a true derby; we played very well, and this may be one of our best performances. Eurofarm Pelister didn’t quite play to their potential; I don’t know if was because of us or perhaps fatigue from their Champions League schedule. I’ve been in this position, and it’s tough to focus on a match like this with thoughts already on the next challenge against a team like Veszprem. We have the utmost respect for them and their entire team.

We are proud and satisfied. I said after the Klaipeda match that I’m happy with how we’re playing. Some may appreciate that win, some may not, but I felt that it was something special. We took a day or so to regroup and prepare, and it paid off.

Hats off to all the players, all of them as a team. I told them it doesn’t matter who scores—it’s all about functioning as a unit. And so far, that’s exactly how it’s been, and I hope it continues,” said Lazarov.

HC ALKALOID – KLAIPEDA DRAGUNAS 42:31 (18:12)

Venue: Avtokomanda in Skopje. Referees: Erdogan Vitaku and Arsim Vitaku from Kosovo. Delegate: Iskandar Azgarov from Azerbaijan

HC ALKALOID: Kizikj (1 save), Galevski 1 (9 save), Djonov, Markoski, Kosteski 10, Mladenovikj 1, Serafimov 6, Karasmanakis 1, Stojkovikj 4, Mitev 5, Gjorgiev 4, Velkovski, Simonoski 1, Bingo 9, Petkovski, Savrevski,

Seven-meter throws: 6/7 Suspensions: 10 min.

KLAIPEDA DRAGUNAS: Pakalniskis (9 odb), Korzhuk 1, Odinokov 2, Simonavicius 4, Buchius 2, Lapiniauskas 4, Paulikas, Juskenas 2, Draksas 1, Cesna 1, Smantauskas 4, Butkus 6, Kairys, Plakhotin, Stropus 4

Seven-meter throws: 2/5 Suspensions: 4 min.

HC Alkaloid kicked off their EHF European Cup campaign with success, claiming their second European victory. In the first match of the second round of the EHF European Cup, HC Alkaloid convincingly defeated Lithuania’s Klaipeda Dragunas by an 11-goal margin.

The match had a blistering pace right from the first whistle, a tempo that played perfectly into HC Alkaloid’s hands, as they thrive on a fast, running game with quick transitions. HC Alkaloid quickly took a 3-1 lead, but the visitors showed they had plenty of quality as well, keeping up with the fast tempo and leveling the score over the next ten minutes.

Once the early feeling-out period passed, HC Alkaloid’s defense became more secure and solid, paving the way for a growing lead. Goalkeeper Ivan Galevski was a standout, pulling off several key saves that set up easy goals, allowing HC Alkaloid to settle into their well-known rhythm. Wingers Kosteski and Bingo were also in top form, excelling in transition and netting some spectacular goals.

By the 15th minute, Alkaloid hit their most effective stretch of the match. From a 9-9 tie, they surged to a 17-10 lead, completely changing the tone of the game.

At halftime, the score was 18-12, and the tempo remained unchanged in the second half. The visitors tried a deeper defensive setup but couldn’t slow down the pace, as both teams continued to play fast handball until the final whistle.

Throughout the second half, HC Alkaloid held a steady lead, ranging from six to nine goals. By the 50th minute, they were up 33-24. The margin hit double digits for the first time in the 52nd minute (35-25), eventually stretching to a maximum lead of 12 goals, before the final whistle confirmed a 42-31 victory.

Post-Match Press Conference: HC Alkaloid – HC Dragunas Klaipeda

HC Alkaloid has set themselves up with a great chance to advance to the next round of the EHF Cup. The “Blue Team” dominated Dragunas Klaipeda with a commanding 42-31 victory in the Avtokomanda arena in the first leg of the 2nd round. With this big win, Kiril Lazarov’s squad has a solid cushion heading into the return leg in Lithuania. After the match, both teams’ coaches, as well as a player from each side, shared their thoughts during the post-game press conference.

KIRIL LAZAROV (Head Coach, HC Alkaloid): “I’m proud of my team. I have great respect for Klaipeda because, as I said before the game, they’re a strong team. Nobody expected such a big win by 11 goals. Despite the convincing victory, we won’t relax; I still believe we need to stay sharp. We were prepared for their fast-paced style of play, we responded well, and we beat a good, albeit not-so-well-known, opponent. The second leg will be tough, especially if we don’t approach it the right way. This was a match played at a true European tempo.”

MARTIN SERAFIMOV (Player, HC Alkaloid): “Klaipeda played a good game, so the goal difference from this first leg doesn’t guarantee anything for the second match. Their counterattacks were strong, and it was hard to keep up with them, but in the end, we came out on top. We’ve got another match ahead of us, and these eleven goals don’t mean much—we have to stay focused in the return leg to secure our spot in the next round.”

JUAN ANTONIO MORENO RODRIGUEZ (Head Coach, HC Dragunas Klaipeda): “Congratulations to Alkaloid on the win. Both teams played at a fast pace, but we failed to capitalize before their goalkeepers. When up against teams like Alkaloid, you need to play much better. We made too many mistakes in crucial situations, and our opponent didn’t let us off the hook.”

KAROLIS STROPUS (Player, HC Dragunas Klaipeda): “We just finished a tough match. Maybe we need more games like this to be more competitive in the future. It was a fast-paced game—we were running and scoring quickly, but then we missed a few key chances, and our game plan fell apart. In some critical moments we failed to score, and if we had, maybe things would’ve been different. But that’s how it goes; we move forward, and this was a good experience for us. We’re ready for the rematch in Lithuania.”