Quality second-half outing brings Metaloplastika to a verge of surprise in Zagreb

Matej Hrstic

In the final match of a three-game SEHA matchday PPD Zagreb were in Dom sportova 2 sports hall with 30:25 better than Serbian Metaloplastika Sabac. Matej Hrstic and David Mandic finished the match as best scorers for PPD Zagreb scoring four goals each while Aleksa Kljajic netted five for Metaloplastika. 

Match was pretty much levelled with neither team managing to catch the right rhythm defensively all the way until a little less than 10 minutes before the break when hosts managed to put a few quality both offensive and defensive actions together opening the gap to seven (19:12) right before the half-time whistle. Matej Hrstic and David Mandic led PPD Zagreb in the first half scoring four each while Aleksa Kljajic and Viktor Maticic netted three each for guests. 

“Lions“ were dominating first few minutes of the second half as well but that's when coach Veselin Vujovic decided to give some of his younger players and players who usually don't play as much a chance to show what they're capable of while at the same time giving his key players a little extra time to rest ahead of what might prove to be a key Champions League encounter of the season in Norway against Elverum in a few days. However, guests knew how to take advantage of that slowly narrowing the gap throughout the entire course of the second half all the way down to only -2 with just over two minutes to go. They even had a chance to come to only -1 but Hrastnik reacted well on a defensive play which eventually led to a game-sealing counter attack goal scored by Zlatko Horvat. In the end 30:25 - important points for Zagreb but also a solid outing for Veselin Vukovic and his players in the Croatian capital, especially in the second half.