HC Vardar 1961 (North Macedonia) led the European League group with a thrilling victory in France.
Vardar defeated FENIX Toulouse (France) 28-26 in the second round of Group F of the 2025/26 EHF Men’s Handball European League at Palais des Sports André Brouat in Toulouse, France on the 21st (local time).
With this victory, Vardar was the sole leader in Group F with two consecutive wins (four points), while Toulouse remained at the bottom with two consecutive losses (zero points).
사진 확대 Photo by 2025/26 EHF Men’s Handball European League match between Vardar and Toulouse, photo source = European Handball Federation
Vardar pushed Toulouse from the beginning of the game. Goalkeeper Milosz Walach defended the goal with a save rate of 50% in the first half, and thanks to this, Vardar led 6-1 in the first eight minutes of the game.
In the attack, Jaka Malus scored six goals and played a key role in the attack, and Dmytro Horiha added four goals to finish with a big 18-11 lead in the first half.
In the second half, Toulouse launched a counterattack with the support of the home crowd. In particular, goalkeeper Jeff Lettens made consecutive saves in the middle, changing the atmosphere.
Nemanja Ilic scored seven goals and Gabriel Nyembo and Erwin Jan Feuchtmann Pérez scored five goals each, narrowing the gap to 25-24 in the 54th minute of the second half.
But Vardar didn’t lose his focus at the end of the game. A number of players joined the scoring and widened the gap again, eventually securing the victory 28-26.
[Kim Yongpil, MK Sports Reporter]