Lucid Loke seals Györ’s double over Vardar

It was yet another chapter in what is becoming an epic rivalry between Györi Audi ETO and HC Vardar, with the Hungarian side celebrating a last-gasp win for their second successive defeat of their Macedonian opponents in this season’s group matches.

GROUP C

Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) vs HC Vardar (MKD) 28:27 (14:17)

Iconic Norwegian pivot Heidi Loke garnished a truly spectacular contest with a buzzer-beating goal which sealed Györi Audi ETO’s victory against HC Vardar; the winning goal sparked wild on-court celebrations among the home team’s players.

It was a exciting end to a game that was thoroughly dominated by Vardar in the opening period; Györ came storming back after the interval to turn the match on its head.

The result gave the Hungarian outfit some measure of revenge for last season’s elimination, as they completed the double over the Macedonian side after beating them 27:22 in the reverse fixture in Skopje.

With the game getting off to a torrid pace, the visitors took the upper hand midway through the first half, as Györ’s former playmaker Andrea Lekic dished out assists almost effortlessly to a long line of scorers who converted their chances ruthlessly.

Although Györ netted plenty of fast breaks and contained Vardar’s Andrea Penezic, they were undone by Vardar’s quick transition of the ball in attack, which resulted in a barrage of uncontested shots from either flank as well as from the middle.

Right wing Jovanka Radicevic, also a former Györ stalwart, was particularly unstoppable for Vardar, while Loke and centre back Anita Görbicz kept Györ afloat in front of a passionate home crowd.

The tide turned straight after the interval, however, as Vardar twice failed to convert six-on-five situations when Györ had players excluded for two minutes.

What’s more, the home side scored against the run of play with a numerical disadvantage, as Görbicz took over and started spraying assists like confetti, and also converting seven-metre penalty shots with clinical efficiency.

In addition, Zsuzsanna Tomori, who had a quiet first half, finally found her range as Vardar’s defence started to crack under pressure.

Vardar looked out for the count after Györ, roared on by their fans, carved out a 24:20 lead heading into the home straight, but the Macedonian giants lived up to their billing as they clawed their way back into the match thanks to several thunderbolts from left back Sanja Damnjanovic, coupled with goals by Radicevic and left wing Siraba Dembele.

However, the final 12 seconds of the enthralling clash produced the final twist, as Penezic was sent to the bench for a foul on Tomori.

Györ capitalised on the numerical advantage as Görbicz found Loke unmarked on the six-metre line and the Norwegian buried her shot into the back of the net, sending the home faithful into raptures.

The magnificent Görbicz finished with a game-high eight goals and Loke added five, while Radicevic, Dembele and Tatiana Khmyrova scored four each at the other end.