Zderic delighted to step up for Buducnost

It was a splendid and convincing win over Vardar (23:17) for Buducnost, who outmuscled the Macedonian champions in a regional derby between two of the major candidates to reach the Women's EHF FINAL4 alongside holders Györ.

Although Dragan Adzic’s team has yet to reach the peak of their form, there was no signs of danger in the Moraca hall, as Buducnost dominated the game from the very first minute, thanks in particular to the very solid defence and a great night for second-choice goalkeeper Marta Zderic (17 saves) as she replaced Clara Woltering, who was out with a finger injury.

“Vardar is a great team and we knew that there would be some mistakes during the game for both teams, because it’s was the first game in the Champions League.

“We were prepared for a great match, we played very aggressively as a team and it always pays. I was not expecting such an easy victory, because it was a replay of last season’s semi-final but I'm very happy that we won the first two points at home,” Marta Zderic told ehfCL.com.

Once more Zderic proved that she is a quality goalkeeper and prepared to replace Clara Woltering whenever called upon.

“Since the beginning of the preparation I feel great, both on the court and off. I enjoy every practice and every game. I'm doing the best I can in every moment when I get a chance I want to use it as best I can,” Zderic added.

On Saturday, Buducnost play away against Podravka, who lost in Round 1 in Germany against Thüringer HC. Zderic will face her former club for the first time in the competition.

“I expect a full hall and a quality match. I also expect we will get the points.

“Besides a victory, I expect us to raise the form through every game and to play as well as before as a team, which is most important,” concluded the 24-year-old.

When Zderic left Podravka last summer, she was replaced by Mirjana Milenkovic, a former Buducnost and Montenegro national team player.

This game will also be her first against her old team in the Women’s EHF Champions League.

“Frankly, we expected a much better game against Thüringer. We prepared for them, but did not fulfil our tasks. We didn’t show our best and we can certainly do better than what we showed in that game.

“As for Buducnost, I believe that they are main contender to win the Champions League, but that does not mean we will give up. We showed that we can play with them, so if we fight until the end of the match, we could get a positive result,” Milenkovic told ehfCL.com.