First loss of the season for Vardar as PPD Zagreb take 28:26 win

PPD Zagreb nanio Vardaru prvi poraz sezone u SEHA Gazprom ligi

PPD Zagreb - Vardar

Vardar have in Varazdin lost a SEHA Gazprom League match for the first time this season with PPD Zagreb bringing another last season's finalist  down in just three days. Zagreb missed Jotic and Mandalinic, Vardar  came without Abutovic and Canellas. From the very beginning Zagreb were able to dictate the tempo with good defense and Stevanovic as their most important player as well as focused attack which has soon brought them advantage Vardar were not able to catch all the way until the end. 'Lions' were flying on wings of duo Josip Valcic - Dobrivoje Markovic (most efficient player of the match with 7 goals) and what is important to mention is that this was probably Zagreb's best performance of the season, especially in the first half.

Vardar did not manage to turn it over despite of Raul trying everything as he did not have enough players ready to battle Zagreb who have now managed to beat big rivals in both Champions League and SEHA League. Karacic and Marsenic were leading the team from Skopje with 4 goals each.

Vardar will in just 4 days play in Brest and PPD Zagreb will on the other hand in a week go to Veszprem for their final clash of the first part of the season. 

Silvio Ivandija, PPD Zagreb coach:
We've made way less mistakes today doing a great job punishing their mistakes well on the other side. It feels good to play two matches in a row on a high level. We were able to stay in control of the match for all 60 minutes winning it deservedly.

Josip Eres, PPD Zagreb player:
We've entered the match well and in the second part we were able to keep the gap opened. We've in  the end managed to take advantage of that margin finishing the match easily with Vardar stepping on the gas pedal in the end. 

Raul Gonzales, Vardar coach:
Zagreb were a better team today. We've made too many mistakes giving them too many easy-goal opportunites which has in the end proved to be costly. 

Ivan Cupic, Vardar player:
In the first half we were missing toughness in defense. In attack we were playing too static making multiple mistakes. In the second part our plan was to go all in but it was too late with Zagreb controling the match until the end and taking the win.