MVM Veszprem beat Meshkov Brest in the first semi-final of SEHA - Gazprom Final 4 24:21 in a 7-metre shootout in the opening match of the weekend.

At full time the teams were deadlocked at 20:20 in a match which many expected would be an easy win for the Hungarian side looking back through their regular SEHA - Gazprom League season but it anything but a simple match for them.

Meshkov opened the match the better side proving that Veszprem, as the favoured team ahead of the match on paper, meant nothing on court.

Ivan Pešić was brilliant in goal for the side from Belarus and their attack was working perfectly with Dzmitry Kamyshyk and Siarhei Shylovich easily launching their missiles into the Hungarian goal past Mirko Alilović.

To make things even worse for the fans from Hungary the Veszprem attack was not working as well as usual in the opening stages, playing too slow which allowed Meshkov coach Sergii Bebeshko to make three offensive-defence changes, strengthening their defence in key positions resulting in  Veszprem scoring their opener with eight minutes already on the clock.

Their coach Javier Sabate was forced to call a team time-out after just 14 minutes because as he side found themselves four goals down and the reigning SEHA - Gazprom League Final 4 champions made it five (10:5), five minutes before the half-time whistle.

Peter Gulyas struck on the buzzer for Veszprem to keep the deficit at five and keep his sides' hope alive in the second half.

The next 30 minutes of handball would prove to be a completely different story. Even though Meshkov once again managed to open the half better, Veszprem slowly started to reduce the gap and it was just three after Jose Maria Rodriguez Vaquero ('Chema') slid in between the Meshkov defence halfway through the final period.

A series of suspensions for Meshkov due to defensive mistakes then followed which gave the Hungarian side an extra breath as they came within one goal with just five minutes left on the clock.

Eventually they brought it all-square at 20:20 and with three seconds left Meshkov had their final attack but Alilović managed to stop Dainis Kristopans' 12-metre firecracker and the game went straight to a 7-metre shootout.

MVM Veszprem's experience would prove to be crucial as they were able to remain calm and keep their focus.

Maksim Baranau and Dzmitry Kamyshyk both missed giving Mirsad Terzić a chance to beat Pešić to make it 4:1 late into the shootout and secure a victory and a second final in a row for the Hungarians.

Cristian Ugalde and Laszlo Nagy scored five each for Veszprem and Shylovich, Kamyshyk, Rastko Stojković and Alexander Tioumentsev hit four each for Brest to lead the scoring for their clubs. The Croatian goalkeeping duo were one of the brightest points of the match with Alilović recording 13 saves for Veszprem and Pešić bringing Meshkov on verge of a stunning victory with 16 saves.

MVM VESZPREM

Mikler, Alilović 13; Gulyas 2, Ivancsik, Schuch, Guardiola, Ilić 3, Palmarsson, Nilsson, Nagy 5, Ugalde 5, Marguč 1(1), Chema Rodriguez 2, Terzić, Sulić 2, Lekai. Coach: Javier Sabate.

MESHKOV BREST

Pešić 16, Charapenka, Patotski; Babichev 1, Kristopans 1, Kamyshyk 4, Nikulenkau, Stojković 4 (1), Tioumentsev 4, Shumak, Vukić 1, Baranau 1, Razgor, Selvasiuk, Shylovich 4. Coach: Sergey Bebeshko.

7-METRE SHOOTOUT:

Momir Ilić (VES) 1:0, Simon Razgor (MES) 1:1, Gašper Marguč (VES) 2:1, Maksim Baranau (MES) missed, Gergo Ivancsik (VES) 3:1, Dzmitry Kamyshyk (MES) missed, Mirsad Terzić (VES) 4:1

MVP: Laszlo Nagy

Quotes after the match:

Javier Sabate, MVM Veszprem coach:

"I would like to congratulate Meshkov on their performance. They've proved to be in good form, their players performed to their maximum and they were better than us in the bigger part of the match.

"This was probably our worst first half since I arrived in Veszprem. Our tempo was too slow and our scoring percentage was too low. I'm proud of my team for believing in this victory until the very end and in the end taking it. We've showed good fighting spirit; our defence was good in the second 30 minutes and our goalkeeper was at the required level.

"We were luckier today and of course I'd like to congratulate my players for this. We want to win in the final but also show a better performance."

Mirko Alilović, MVM Veszprem goalkeeper:

"We played an amazing match, fighting until the end. We were two goals down until the final two minutes which makes this victory even bigger and better. Pešić was remarkable in the first half and we were afraid to even shoot at times.

"Going to the 7-metre shootout affected Meshkov' morale and motivation and in the end we've managed to take this win although we were not in a good position at all."

Sergey Bebeshko, Meshkov Brest coach:

"I'd like to congratulate Veszprem on the victory. We tried everything today and we've managed to keep the match narrow for all 60 minutes but in the end Veszprem' quality and experience has decided the match.

"We did not lose the match which I consider as a success for us."

Ljubo Vukić, Meshkov Brest player:

"Of course we're not happy about the loss but in such a situation, with 10 players and with our pivot being first reserve on back positions this is not so bad.

"We've managed to keep the match narrow but in the end lost it and it was our fault because we've had everything in our hands. Congrats to Veszprem on reaching the final."