THE SPORTS GROUND RK ZAGREB FAREWELLS TIMUR DIBIROV FROM THE EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NARROWLY DEFEATED AGAINST KIELCA

RK ZAGREB – INDUSTRIA KIELCE 26:27 (12:15)
RK Zagreb: Grbavac, Mandić 11 saves; Hadžić, Walczak 1, Faljić, Klarica 5, Gojun, Kraljević 1, Topić, Gavrić 3, Dibirov 2, Przytula 3, Bialiauski 2, Kavčič 3, Glavaš 5, Trivković 1. Coach: Velimir Petković
Industria Kielce: Walach 9 defense, Ćordalija; Olejniczak 2, Kounkoud 3, Sicko, A. Dujshebaev 4, Maqueda, D. Dujshebaev 2, Surgiel 1, Kaddah 5, Gebala, Karalek 3, Monar 2, Nahi 5. Coach: Talant Dujshebaev

In the last round of the group stage of this season’s Machineseeker EHF Champions League, Zagreb handball players were narrowly defeated by Poland’s Kielce 26:27 in front of almost 7,000 fans in the Zagreb Arena. In an incredible ending, the Poles were happier and more skilled and managed to win and get two points, which means passage to the next stage of the competition.

Right before the start of the match, Zagreb’s sports director Damir Bičanić presented a commemorative jersey to Timur Dibirov. For the incredible Russian, the second top scorer in the history of this competition, this was the last game of his career in the Champions League, as Timur will end his career at the end of the season.

The Zagreb players started brilliantly – the defense was solid, Matej Mandić was indomitable, and the attack was precise, and the Lions very quickly reached a three-goal advantage (4:1, 5:2). However, the guests wake up at that moment – the French Dylan Nahi and Benoit Kounkoud are plentiful in the half counter. Kielce is slowly arriving and overtaking Zagreb. The defense of the Poles in the second half of the first part looked much better and the visitors leave for the break with +3 (12:15). For Zagreb, four goals by Filip Glavaš and five saves by Matej Mandić, while goalkeeper Milosz Walach and Hassan Kaddah had the same effect for the guests.

At the beginning of the second part, newly arrived Pole Damian Przytula makes the difference in favor of Zagreb in defense and attack, bringing the Lions fully back into the game with three consecutive goals (16:16). It should be emphasized that, apart from the Pole Przytula, this was also the first match of Croatians with Hungarian passport Petar Topić in the Zagreb jersey.

Unfortunately, as in the first half, after ten minutes, Kielce caught the right pace in defense and increased the lead again. A little over 10 minutes before the end of the match, the Poles had +3 again (19:22). Zagreb rotated in attack and defense and managed to equalize less than two minutes before the referee’s final whistle with a goal by Timur Dibirov for 26:26. In the end, unfortunately, Kielce was happier and smarter by 26:27.

This is how Zagreb finished their journey in the EHF Champions League this season. The entire focus now remains on the Croatian championship and the cup. The next game on the schedule is on Saturday, when Zagreb hosts the guests from Čakovec in the new round of the Paket24 Premier League for the champions.

Congratulations to my players for their fight and efforts. I believe that we are growing from game to game, and that next season we will have much to say in the Champions League – Velimir Petković, RK Zagreb Head Coach

I agree with the coach. Obviously, we are growing both as a team and as individuals. It’s a shame we didn’t score a few more points in these last games because we deserved it, but I also agree that next season, we will definitely be at a level where we can play a very good season – Davor Gavrić, RK Zagreb Player

SOURCE: RK Zagreb