The series goes to a fifth and decisive game. Hapoel Ashdod is back in business, and after falling behind 2-0 in the final series of the Premier League against Maccabi Rishon LeZion, it equalized to 2-2 tonight (Tuesday) with a big 24:28 victory in its home arena.
Andrea Vukiewicz's team came away with a lot of confidence following the victory in the third game of the series outside, which shrank to 2-1, and despite playing without Nivo Levy (muscle injury), and early in the second half also losing scorer Risto Vujcic to a red card, they managed to keep the Yellows at just 24 goals and force a Game 5. The decisive battle for the championship will take place this Friday.
In tonight's game, Ashdod had the advantage in most stages of the match, mainly thanks to the excellent ability of goalkeeper Svetislav Vurkic (41% stops). Aleksandar Babic scored 9 goals and maintained the gap towards the final minutes, when a small comeback by Maccabi Rishon LeZion at the beginning of the second half, led by Yeremi Sidi, did not prevent a second consecutive defeat for the Yellows.
Ashdod equalized 2:2 against Rishon LeZion in the State Handball Championship, Photo: Hadar van Kola, Handball Association
Ashdod scored: Aleksandar Babic 9, Amit Stelman (4 penalties) and Vuk Milankovic 5 each, Itay Suissa 4, Or Farkas 2, Omri Kushmaro, Ofir Cohen and Svetislav Workic 1 each. Workic contributed 17 stops from 41 shots (41%!).
Scored for Maccabi Rishon LeZion: Yeremi Sidi 8, Nadav Nizri 6, Ivan Karacic 3, Pavel Atman, Gafar Hadziumrovich and Guy Gera 2 each, Zach Malul 1. Gradimir Chenevsky provided 12 stops on 39 shots (31%).
Ashdod coach Andrea Vukiewicz: "We came today to fight for home, because Maccabi led 2:1 before the game. And we managed despite all the problems with Nivo Levy in the warm-up and Risto with the red in the 36th minute, the players remained standing. Today we had Alexander Babic like Kobe Bryant in moments of truth, all the players played amazing. Ofir Cohen came from the shadows today, this season I didn't give him enough time and today he showed me that I was wrong, but this is sport. For me it was the most important thing to win today at home because it's a farewell game."
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Maccabi Rishon LeZion coach Joe Mathia: "Very disappointing the arrears, I think we had a very good opportunity to take the game in the previous game. Today Ashdod were better, especially the goalkeeper. We have to change a lot of things compared to today, we are facing a very good, very strong team. We have to be very excellent to take the series. The difference is mainly in goal, 17 stops by Worka compared to 12 by Cznevski. And the percentages are what made the difference. The team that makes 41% stops usually wins like today."
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