An inspiring moment of creativity defined the big derby – just 54 seconds before the end, with only one pass allowed, the Montenegrin handball players executed a brilliant play and netted a goal to secure a victory over Serbia (31:30) in Zrenjanin.

A block was being assembled, as everyone anticipated a pass to Jelena Despotović for a shot, but Tatjana Brnović deceived the defense by passing to Itana Grbić, who broke free and calmly scored against Jovana Risović.

The home team aimed for a draw, but Jovana Jovović lost possession, thwarting Uroš Bregar’s team’s impressive comeback in the second half after a shaky start.

Serbia initially took the lead with a goal from Sanja Radosavljević just 63 seconds into the match, but the “lionesses” responded vigorously, scoring four goals twice to move ahead 4:1 and later 8:3.

Bregar requested a time-out when the score stood at 7:3, but his team couldn’t close the gap to fewer than three points until the half ended, with Bojana Popović’s squad achieving a five-goal lead on eight occasions.

They could have maintained that lead at halftime; however, Brnović’s shot from the center missed the open goal of Serbia, bringing the score to 16:12 just prior.

No one could fault the incredible pivot, who posed an unsolvable riddle for the Serbian players both offensively and defensively. In tandem with Despotović, she dominated the center, contributing to Montenegro’s six additional shots (24 vs. 18).

Later, Armel Atingre made her debut for Montenegro, allowing the Serbian team to find more success against the “lionesses’” defense. In the 34th minute, Jovović’s goal closed the gap to 17:15.

It was a back-and-forth matchup until Bregar’s time-out, after which Radosavljević narrowed the score to 20:19 in the 42nd minute. By the 46th minute, Jovović equalized at 22:22 with her sixth goal.

Popović called for another time-out, but Serbia’s momentum surged. Pletikosić’s goal for 24:23 was ruled out due to an earlier substitution, allowing the home team to shift the score to 24:23.

The center back from Romania’s Craiova reclaimed the lead with two consecutive goals (her seventh and eighth), making it 26:25. Atingre and Despotović then took charge; the naturalized Montenegrin saved a shot at 27:27 and again at 29:28, while the youngest member of the 2012 EHF Euro gold-winning team assisted Itana Grbić for a pivotal 30:28 lead with three and a half minutes remaining.

Bregar called another time-out, and Anđela Janjušević equalized at 30:30 with a pair of goals, including a drive from the seven. With just 54 seconds left, her teammates from Crimea executed a brilliant feint, clinching the two points that secured their qualification for the European Championship in Hungary, Austria, and Switzerland—almost guaranteeing a top spot in the six-team qualification group, hence a more favorable position in the draw.

SERBIA – MONTENEGRO 30:31 (12:16)

Zrenjanin – “Crystal Hall.” Attendance: 2,520. Officials: Pirvu and Potirnike (Romania). Penalties: Serbia 7 (6), Montenegro 6 (5). Suspensions: Serbia 10, Montenegro 12 minutes.

Serbia: RISOVIĆ (five saves and seven goals), Kubina, RADOSAVLJEVIĆ 5, Veličković 2, Majkić, VUKAJLOVIĆ, Mandić, Nuković, JANJUŠEVIĆ 8 (2), Vasić, JOVOVIĆ 7, Stamenić 5 (4), Bojičić 1, RADEVIĆ 2, Simić, PETROVIĆ.

Montenegro: RAJČIĆ (two saves and seven goals), Atingre (three saves), MARSENIĆ 5, PLETIKOSIC 9 (4), Godeč 1, MUGOŠA 3 (1), Agović, Nada Ćorović, Ujkić, Ivanović, BRNOVIĆ 4, Klikovac, DESPOTOVIĆ 4, Pavićević, Kepić, GRBIĆ 5.

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