Buducnost maintain perfect home record

Buducnost have not claimed any points away in the current EHF Champions League season, but their results on the home court are a different story. Following three wins in as many group phase games in Podgorica, the Montenegrin side kept their perfect home record as they beat Thüringer HC 29:21 in their second main round match on Saturday evening.

• Buducnost earn first points of the main round
• Buducnost’s top scorer is Djurdjina Malovic with seven goals, Iveta Luzumova nets eight for THC
• THC will host Metz next week, while Buducnost play at Vardar

GROUP 2
Buducnost (MNE) vs Thüringer HC (GER) 29:21 (15:12)

Buducnost and THC had previously met eight times in the continent’s top flight, and the Montenegrin team had won seven of those matches – including two in the 2016/17 season.

Despite their rebuilding process, Buducnost were seen as favourites for the game in Podgorica, and they lived up to this status by earning a confident victory.

"We worked hard to prepare for Thuringer. The most important thing is that we corrected our mistakes and that we were focused on our performance," said Buducnost keeper Darly Zoqbi De Paula. "If we play hard, we can beat every opponent. Our desire is to play better as the season moves."

The competition’s top scorer, Iveta Luzumova, opened for THC, yet Buducnost quickly claimed the initiative. They capitalised on THC’s mistakes and pulled ahead to lead 9:3, then 12:6.

Buducnost also looked shaky at times, which allowed the visitors to reduce the gap to 15:12 at the interval.

The game was balanced early in the second half, before the home team’s goalkeeper, Zoqbi De Paula, made a string of saves that helped Buducnost turn a 18:14 advantage into a commanding 24:14 lead, conceding no goals for 10 minutes.

While the German visitors had no chance for a comeback, Buducnost finished with an eight-goal score line in their favour.

"Buducnost have been very good, and we knew this would be a tough match. It is not easy to play in Podgorica against a team that plays great defence. We made a lot of mistakes and allowed the opponents to score easy goals," said THC line player Meike Schmelzer.

The Montenegrin team are now level on six points with Metz and FTC – who will meet in France on Sunday. THC count two points in their tally.