Croatian derby at the beginning of SEHA -Gazprom League’s eighth season brought us a huge surprise with NEXE reaching their first ever win against PPD Zagreb. In the end 23:22 (13:9) and a big celebration for the team from Nasice.

After the first half hosts were already four goals up after having even plus five on a few occasions in the first. Their power-play actions were something coach Cervar and his team obviously didn’t really prepare for and it was a clear difference maker throughout the full course of the encounter. By that, NEXE’s newly-signed goalie Mihailo Radanovic also shined with two seven-meter shot saves in the first to help his team enlarge the gap early into the match.

A little more than ten minutes prior to the final whistle hosts were huge six goals ahead but that’s when Zagreb started playing better, especially on the defensive side of the court helping them score some easy goals and completely narrow the gap to 22:21. However, Sipic was focused enough in the final minutes scoring his sixth of the night to put NEXE up by two (23:21) definitely sealing the deal in this one. Horvat later managed to bring guests to only -1 but there was simply not enough time for ‘Lions’ to completely turn the match over after that.

Zlatko Horvat led Zagreb with nine while on the other side Tomi Vozab netted eight for NEXE.