North Macedonia’s powerhouse GRK Ohrid took a stride toward the top of Europe thanks to a dramatic come-from-behind winning goal just before the end of the game.
Ohrid defeated MOL Tabanya KC 29-28 in the first leg of the 2025/26 EHF Men’s Handball European Cup Final at Tabányai Multifunkcíos Csarnok in Turbanja, Hungary on the 24th (local time).
With this, Ohrid took one precious win on the most difficult away road and dominated the advantage of lifting the trophy just by drawing in the second leg at home on the 31st.
사진 확대 Photo by 2025/26 EHF Men’s Handball European Cup Ohrid and Turban women’s game, photo source = European Handball Federation
As a final match, the court was hot from the beginning of the first half due to a rough war of nerves. There was a fierce hand-to-hand battle, with three exits for two minutes in the first five minutes of the game.
It was Ohrid who took the momentum. Ohrid’s salty water defense completely neutralized Turbanyu’s attack in the first 25 minutes. Behind the defense was goalkeeper Christian Pilipovic. Filipovic recorded nine saves in the first half alone, showing a phenomenal 67% ERA.
Turbanja struggled with only five points until the 24th minute of the first half due to Ohrid’s iron wall defense, and Ohrid finished the first half with ace Ante Ivankovic scoring five goals in the first half alone, leading 13-8.
In the second half, Turbana’s counterattack began. Turbanja chased 11-14 by scoring three consecutive times, taking advantage of two Ohrid players being sent off for two minutes at the same time to gain a numerical advantage.
As the game progressed to the second half, Ohrid showed a decrease in his physical strength and concentration, and the flow of the game was completely transferred to Turbanyu. After a score by Pedro Rodríguez, Turbanja followed with a score of 24–25, Benedek Eles scored the equalizer to balance 26–26.
Just before the end of the match, Pedro Rodriguez shook Ohrid’s net once again, making Turbanja the first and last to turn the tables 28-27 during the game. The stadium boiled like a furnace with the shouts of the home fans of Turban girls.
It was gatekeeper Christian Filipovic who saved Ohrid from a desperate crisis. Filipovic stopped Turbana’s decisive shot twice in the final minute, allowing no additional runs.
Overcoming the crisis, Ohrid finished the match with a thrilling 29-28 point-gap victory, with Anté Ivankovic and Darko Đukic scoring a dramatic back-to-back goal with the closing buzzer.
On the same day, Turbanja worked hard with Benedek Elesi scoring nine goals, and Philip Taleski from North Macedonia, who joined from Benfica through the winter transfer market, added two goals against his team, but failed to prevent his team’s defeat. Ohrid was the leading player in the victory, with Anté Ivankovic and Dárko Zukic responsible for seven goals each.
In the history of the EHF European Cup, the team that won the first round of the finals has never missed the championship title. In addition, Turbanyo suffered his first defeat on the European stage this season, while Ohrid, led by Boris Rojevic, has been invincible on the home turf, winning all six of his home games this season.
If Ohrid secures the championship in the second round of the match at Sportska Sala Biljanini Izvori in Ohrid, North Macedonia, on the 31st, the North Macedonia club will set a milestone of winning the European championship for the second consecutive year following the victory of Alkaloid in 2025.
[Kim Yongpil, MK Sports Reporter]