3rd PLACE MATCH PREVIEW: Day two of the competition oozes excitement, with Vardar looking to defend their 2014 result, while Dinamo would want to make their long trip worthwhile.
Vardar and Dinamo to make amends fighting for the third place
Despite their semi-final defeats, Dinamo-Sinara and Vardar still have so much to fight for at the MVM EHF FINAL4, with both the Russian and Macedonian side having a good first half before their eventual losses.
MVM EHF FINAL4, third place match:
Dinamo-Sinara (RUS) vs WHC Vardar SCBT (MKD)
Vardar will be looking to defend last season’s result, while Dinamo would want to make their 1,875 kilometres long trip worthwhile and leave Budapest with one win and smile on their faces.
“We lost today, but tomorrow is a new day and new challenges are waiting for us. We will be motivated and try to be better than today,” said Dinamo right winger Anita Gace.
Glass half empty, or a glass half full
It is all a matter of perspective, really. But the fans at the Papp Laszlo Sportarena are going to have a quality match to behold, with both teams eager to show their best handball after suffering heavy defeats.
Vardar will have their third place from last year to defend, while trying to make amends for their lacklustre performance against Buducnost.
"Tomorrow is going to be like hell! We had two hard matches against Dinamo, and of course both of us want to finish the third and not fourth,” said Andrea Lekic, who ready for another challenge before the MVM EHF FINAL4 comes to a close.
Dinamo-Sinara’s MVM EHF FINAL4 appearance is a success story in its self, although the Russian side did not come to Budapest to be a mere spectator, but to compete and leave for Volgograd with the best possible result.
“We don’t have a lot of time to prepare for tomorrow but that doesn’t mean that we will lose our positive spirit. We will take a look at our mistakes from today’s game and try to overcome them tomorrow in the match for the bronze medal,” said Dinamo-Sinara goalkeeper Anna Sedoykina, who is certainly looking forward to showing off her skill between the posts once again after conceding a poot 31 goals against Larvik.
Point to prove
“Tomorrow is a new day and I hope we will have fresh power for the bronze game. It won’t be easy, for sure, but we must think like this,” said Jovanka Radicevic, one of the favourite figures in Budapest, having played in Hungary (Györ) for two seasons.
Vardar will have a point to prove after failing to show their progress against Buducnost. Coaches Indira Kastratovic and Jan Pylick rested his quintessential playmaker, Andrea Lekic for this game, while opening up new opportunities for rotation in Vardar team. The Danish school will be surely more prevailing against Dinamo with the players hungry for the win, and the opportunity to finish the MVM EHF FINAL4 on a high.
“But anyway is it not bad making it two years in a row to the FINAL4! We just need to keep our heads up and continue fighting for that third place!” said Andrea Lekic, displaying the positive attitude and winning mentality she will look to instill onto her team by Sunday’s third placement clash.
TEXT:
Nemanja Savic / br / bc