MVM Veszprem vs. Vardar 28:26 (14:15)

MVM Veszprem managed to defend their SEHA - Gazprom Final 4 title in an amazing display of thrilling handball talent.

Riding on the wings of the SEHA - Gazprom League 2015/16 MVP Momir Ilić who scored seven goals, they won their second title in two seasons.

Vardar opened the final at a furious pace with a back line led by Luka Cindrić which softened Veszprem’s steel-strong defence easily and after just seven minutes the Macedonians were already four goals up (7:3).

Vardar’s defence was working perfectly with Ilija Abutović and Alem Toskić easily dealing with the Veszprem’ backs except Momir Ilić who was, from the beginning, an enigma for his opponents as he scored the opening four goals for the Hungarian side.

Coach Javier Sabate was forced to call a team time out early into the first half for the Hungarians and fortunately for the loud fans from Veszprem it turned out to be a good call as they watched their side slowly reduce the gap and then force Vardar coach Raul Gonzales to replace Strahinja Milić in goal and bring in Arpad Šterbik who once again proved to be one of the best in business with six saves.

In the end Ilić concluded a narrow first half with a cracker reducing the gap to just one. He was also the best scorer in the opening half with six goals while Luka Cindrić and Daniil Shishkarev scored three each for Vardar to ensure they led 15:14.

In the second half fans witnessed a real spectacle with amazing goals, saves and highlight plays as both teams played a fantastic match all the way until the final whistle.

Ivan Slišković returned from an earlier injury and stepped up when it was needed the most with four goals, while behind him Mirko Alilović was unbelievable and eventually unbeatable in the end as he decided the match.

Alex Dujshebaev and Cindrić gave the Veszprem defence a little lesson of fast-flowing handball and tactics and Šterbik did what he does best between the posts.

In the end Veszprem won 28:26 in an amazing atmosphere in Arena Varaždin and Ilić ended as the best scorer of the match with seven goals, while Cindrić scored five for Vardar who came close to upsetting the pre-match favourites.

MVM VESZPREM

Mikler 4 saves, Alilović 5 saves ; Gulyas 1, Ivancsik 1, Schuch , Ilić 7(1), Palmarsson 3, Nilsson 1, Nagy 4, Ugalde 2, Marguč 3(2), Chema Rodriguez 1, Terzić, Sulić 1, Lekai, Slišković 4. Coach: Javier Sabate.

VARDAR

Šterbik 8 saves, Milić 2 saves, Angelov; Stoilov 1, Brumen 1, Toskić , Manaskov 2(1), Maqueda 2, Karačić 2, Dujshebaev 4, Abutović, Cindrić 5, Dibirov 4, Gorbok 2, Shishkarev 3, Marsenić. Coach: Raul Gonzales.

MVP: Momir Ilić

Quotes after the match:

Javier Sabate, MVM Veszprem coach:

"Vardar have today played a great match which was the icing on the cake of the Final 4. Vardar were amazing at the beginning of the match.

"We’ve missed some of our chances and they were doing a great job scoring easy goals but the good thing of my team is that we never give up. Mirko was here in the end to save some tricky shots, which decided the match and we’ve taken the trophy.

"I’d like to congratulate my players. It is not easy to play good all the time but we’ve today showed team spirit and commitment and that’s what matters most.

"It’s been an amazing season for us in the SEHA League and with this remarkable Final 4.

Mirko Alilović, MVM Veszprem goalkeeper:

"These were four really amazing, narrow matches here this weekend and SEHA has once again proved to be as good as the EHF Final 4 in Cologne.

"In the end, in my opinion, we were a bit luckier deciding the match three minutes before the end due to some of their technical mistakes.

"It was a tough match and a great win."

Raul Gonzales, Vardar coach:

"I’d like to congratulate Veszprem and especially their coach who is in my opinion doing a great job.

"We were better in first half - the first 20 minutes to be more precise - and later on we’ve lacked focus and they were there to reduce the gap.

"My players also did a great job. They were focused today and we’ve played very good."

Mijajlo Marsenić, Vardar player:

"We’ve played two good matches here at the Final 4. We’ve lost against Veszprem who are one of the best teams in Europe.

"Mirko was decisive for their win in the end with some important saves against shots which could have turned the whole story around.

"What a great match."