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HC ALKALOID – KLAIPEDA DRAGUNAS 42:31 (18:12)

Venue: Avtokomanda in Skopje. Referees: Erdogan Vitaku and Arsim Vitaku from Kosovo. Delegate: Iskandar Azgarov from Azerbaijan

HC ALKALOID: Kizikj (1 save), Galevski 1 (9 save), Djonov, Markoski, Kosteski 10, Mladenovikj 1, Serafimov 6, Karasmanakis 1, Stojkovikj 4, Mitev 5, Gjorgiev 4, Velkovski, Simonoski 1, Bingo 9, Petkovski, Savrevski,

Seven-meter throws: 6/7 Suspensions: 10 min.

KLAIPEDA DRAGUNAS: Pakalniskis (9 odb), Korzhuk 1, Odinokov 2, Simonavicius 4, Buchius 2, Lapiniauskas 4, Paulikas, Juskenas 2, Draksas 1, Cesna 1, Smantauskas 4, Butkus 6, Kairys, Plakhotin, Stropus 4

Seven-meter throws: 2/5 Suspensions: 4 min.

HC Alkaloid kicked off their EHF European Cup campaign with success, claiming their second European victory. In the first match of the second round of the EHF European Cup, HC Alkaloid convincingly defeated Lithuania’s Klaipeda Dragunas by an 11-goal margin.

The match had a blistering pace right from the first whistle, a tempo that played perfectly into HC Alkaloid’s hands, as they thrive on a fast, running game with quick transitions. HC Alkaloid quickly took a 3-1 lead, but the visitors showed they had plenty of quality as well, keeping up with the fast tempo and leveling the score over the next ten minutes.

Once the early feeling-out period passed, HC Alkaloid’s defense became more secure and solid, paving the way for a growing lead. Goalkeeper Ivan Galevski was a standout, pulling off several key saves that set up easy goals, allowing HC Alkaloid to settle into their well-known rhythm. Wingers Kosteski and Bingo were also in top form, excelling in transition and netting some spectacular goals.

By the 15th minute, Alkaloid hit their most effective stretch of the match. From a 9-9 tie, they surged to a 17-10 lead, completely changing the tone of the game.

At halftime, the score was 18-12, and the tempo remained unchanged in the second half. The visitors tried a deeper defensive setup but couldn’t slow down the pace, as both teams continued to play fast handball until the final whistle.

Throughout the second half, HC Alkaloid held a steady lead, ranging from six to nine goals. By the 50th minute, they were up 33-24. The margin hit double digits for the first time in the 52nd minute (35-25), eventually stretching to a maximum lead of 12 goals, before the final whistle confirmed a 42-31 victory.

Post-Match Press Conference: HC Alkaloid – HC Dragunas Klaipeda

HC Alkaloid has set themselves up with a great chance to advance to the next round of the EHF Cup. The “Blue Team” dominated Dragunas Klaipeda with a commanding 42-31 victory in the Avtokomanda arena in the first leg of the 2nd round. With this big win, Kiril Lazarov’s squad has a solid cushion heading into the return leg in Lithuania. After the match, both teams’ coaches, as well as a player from each side, shared their thoughts during the post-game press conference.

KIRIL LAZAROV (Head Coach, HC Alkaloid): “I’m proud of my team. I have great respect for Klaipeda because, as I said before the game, they’re a strong team. Nobody expected such a big win by 11 goals. Despite the convincing victory, we won’t relax; I still believe we need to stay sharp. We were prepared for their fast-paced style of play, we responded well, and we beat a good, albeit not-so-well-known, opponent. The second leg will be tough, especially if we don’t approach it the right way. This was a match played at a true European tempo.”

MARTIN SERAFIMOV (Player, HC Alkaloid): “Klaipeda played a good game, so the goal difference from this first leg doesn’t guarantee anything for the second match. Their counterattacks were strong, and it was hard to keep up with them, but in the end, we came out on top. We’ve got another match ahead of us, and these eleven goals don’t mean much—we have to stay focused in the return leg to secure our spot in the next round.”

JUAN ANTONIO MORENO RODRIGUEZ (Head Coach, HC Dragunas Klaipeda): “Congratulations to Alkaloid on the win. Both teams played at a fast pace, but we failed to capitalize before their goalkeepers. When up against teams like Alkaloid, you need to play much better. We made too many mistakes in crucial situations, and our opponent didn’t let us off the hook.”

KAROLIS STROPUS (Player, HC Dragunas Klaipeda): “We just finished a tough match. Maybe we need more games like this to be more competitive in the future. It was a fast-paced game—we were running and scoring quickly, but then we missed a few key chances, and our game plan fell apart. In some critical moments we failed to score, and if we had, maybe things would’ve been different. But that’s how it goes; we move forward, and this was a good experience for us. We’re ready for the rematch in Lithuania.”