North Macedonia’s HC Alkaloid marked another milestone on the European handball stage. In the first leg of the 2024/25 EHF Men’s European Cup semi-final, they beat Norwegian powerhouse Runar Sandefjord 42-37 to advance to the final.
The match was held at Sportska Sala “Avtokomanda” in Skopje, North Macedonia, on the 20th (local time), and as both teams boasted excellent scoring skills throughout the season, a breathless attack was also held on the day.
From the beginning, the two teams competed fiercely. Sannefjord took a 3-1 lead with quick back-to-back points, but Alkaloids immediately balanced and continued the seesaw game.
ėŽė§ íë Photo 2024/25 EHF Men’s European Cup semi-final match between Alcaroid and Sannefior, photo source = European Handball Federation
Midway through the first half, Alkaloids raised the mood by creating a three-goal lead, with Sannefjord chasing at the last minute, but Alkaloids finished the first half with a slight lead of 21-20.
The trend continued in the second half. Sannefjord scored back-to-back points to turn the tables 23-22, but Alkaloids reversed the score again soon after, regaining the lead 33-31.
At the end of the game, he showed a stable finish, including Karasmanakis Valentin’s goal, to secure a valuable 42-37, five-goal victory.
The hero of the game was the ace of both teams. Alkaloids Martin Serafimov scored 10 goals to lead the team’s attack, while Ivan Djonov added seven goals. In addition, four players played evenly with four goals each, dispersing their firepower.
Sannefior’s Christoffer Rambo also showed off his presence by scoring 11 goals, with Tor Lea Knutsen scoring seven goals and Sander Rogne Myklebust scoring five, but it was not enough to prevent his team’s defeat.
The two teams have boasted a strong offense this season, averaging more than 30 goals per game. On this day, a total of 79 goals were scored, giving fans a hot game. However, the defense and the goalkeeper’s ability to save were regrettable. Alkaloids and Sannefior’s goalkeepers made seven and eight saves, respectively, and their save success rate was less than 20%.
The second leg of the semi-final will be played at home to Sannefjord, where Alkaloids will go on the road with a five-goal lead. However, due to the nature of the European match, the game may be reversed with just one game, so we must not let our guard down. Sannefior is preparing to fight back with the support of its home fans.
Meanwhile, if HC Alkaloids reach the final, they will make a new history of advancing to the EHF European Cup final for the first time in the club’s history.
[Kim Yongpil, MK Sports Reporter]