PPD Zagreb confirm Final Four with a dominant victory over Tatran

PPD Zagreb potvrdio Final Four uvjerljivom pobjedom nad Tatranom

PPD  Zagreb - Tatran

PPD Zagreb have as a part of 17th Round of SEHA Gazprom League in ‘Matchbox’ sports hall managed to beat Slovak Tatran Prešov in a key match for placement on League’s Final Four with 34:26 (16:13).

‘Lions’ were clearly weakened with Ivić, Stevanović, Šebetić and Vujić being sidelined for the match giving youngster Arian Jović a place in the spotlight which he used quite well with 9 saves in first 30 minutes. Zagreb have on wings of his saves and 5 goals from each Marković and Pavlović soonly reached +4 (7:3) and 16:13 after the half-time whistle.

In the beginning of the second half Tatran were playing a bit better but after opening ten minutes Zagreb have once again managed to speed up the tempo cruising towards final +8 (34:26). Pavlović has finished the game with 6 goals, Marković with 5 from the first part and Mandalinić with 3 from the second along with Arian Jović’ 11 saves. Krok has on the other side netted 6, Hrstka added 5.

Rastislav Trtik, Tatran’ coach:

Dynamic match from both sides. We are experiencing certain injury problems missing some of our important players but Zagreb are in such problems too. I believe that goal difference was bit too big in the end. With Vasja Furlan on the court we were able to stay close but after he went out our youngsters were not able to give such resistance and the difference was slowly rising. We’ve tried a few defensive systems and finally keeping up with one of them but that is a thing we still have to work on. Congrats to Zagreb!

 

Veselin Vujović, PPD Zagreb’ coach:

Tatran have played a well match, really nice handball match. With Furlan on court the difference was not too big and in my opinion +8 does not look so realistic looking back on the match. This was a tough moment for us too play this match but it was not easy for them either and I have to congratulate my players on a victory. 

Vasja Furlan, Tatran’ player:

We’ve both missed some players and that’s the reason why some players who usually do not play so much were today given a chance to show what they can and I believe they’ve used it well. Difference is a bit too big, we’ve made some technical mistakes in the end and that’s our fault but all in all it was not so bad. Zagreb were today better and I congratulate them on a victory.

Stanko Sabljić, PPD Zagreb’ player:

This was an important match for us to confirm a place on League’s Final Four. An interesting encounter for fans and I can say I’m happy about the victory.