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HC VARDAR 1961 – HC ALKALOID 34–28 (17–17)

Venue: Jane Sandanski in Skopje. Referees: Ismail Metalari and Nenad Nikolovski. Delegate: Marjan Nachevski.

HC VARDAR 1961: Valach (3 saves), Gogov (8 saves), Bogdanovski, Stojanovski, Bono 5, Georgievski 2, Mitrovic 4, Tankoski, Marciniak, Tuzolana 2, Horiha 9, Atanasovski 1, Malus 5, Kjosevski, Jankovski 3, Borozan 3.

Seven-meter: 3/5. Suspensions: 8 min.

HC ALKALOID: Kizikj (2 saves), Galevski (4 saves), Djonov, Þordarsson 2, Markoski, Serafimov 9, Karasmanakis 1, Stojkovic 4, M. Mitev 2, Gjorgiev 1, Velkovski, Ivanovski 3, Kosteski 4, D. Mitev 2, Alarov, Gjorgovski.

Seven-meter: 4/6. Suspensions: 6 min.

HC Alkaloid suffered their first Super League defeat of the season.  In the final match of the first half of the autumn campaign in Round 11, they played away at the Jane Sandanski arena against HC Vardar 1961.

The derby lived up to expectations, delivering top-level handball with both sides having their moments and exchanging leads throughout the opening half. The score remained tight most of the way, and HC Alkaloid missed a late chance to close the half in front.

Missing Uros Borzas and with Marko Mitev and Igor Gjorgiev still recovering from injuries (the latter sustained during the recent national team break), Alkaloid’s available squad had to find fresh solutions, particularly in attack. They showed impressive creativity and fluid coordination, building efficient plays as the score stood at 17–17 after 30 minutes.

The match was played at a high tempo, and around the 45th minute a dip in concentration during offensive execution proved costly for HC Alkaloid, as Vardar capitalized to open a three-goal lead — enough to shift the momentum and put pressure on HC Alkaloid’s squad. The hosts took advantage of the situation, widening the gap in the closing ten minutes to seal the win.

In the next round, HC Alkaloid heads into another major derby, becoming the first of the “big four” to visit the reinforced CHC Ohrid on their home court.