RK Borac m suffered a crushing 38–19 defeat against Greek side PAOK in Thessaloniki in the first leg of the second round of the EHF European Cup, leaving the Banja Luka club with virtually no chance of progressing ahead of the return match.
The Greek team dominated throughout the encounter, taking advantage of Borac’s defensive weaknesses, numerous technical errors and an outstanding performance by Serbian goalkeeper Igor Arsić.
Disastrous start puts Borac under pressure
Borac struggled from the opening minutes against PAOK’s aggressive defense.
The visitors managed to score just one goal in the first ten minutes, allowing the hosts to establish a commanding 7–1 lead.
The introduction of Trivunović and Pejanović brought some improvement to Borac’s attacking play, but defensive problems continued to undermine their efforts.
Egyptian player Yassin Omar was particularly effective for PAOK, scoring four goals during the opening period, while goalkeeper Arsić recorded six saves.
Borac also committed numerous technical errors, which the Greek side punished with fast counterattacks.
Young Borac player Nikša Trivunović scored four goals during this phase, while goalkeeper Grahovac registered four saves.
PAOK extend their advantage in the second half
The situation deteriorated further for Borac after the break, as PAOK continued to increase their lead.
A devastating 7–0 scoring run gave the Greek team a 27–14 advantage in the 42nd minute.
Borac coach Mirko Mikić watched as his team struggled to find solutions in both attack and defense.
PAOK scored from virtually every position, while the Banja Luka side failed to establish any consistency.
The hosts maintained their dominance until the final whistle, securing an emphatic 38–19 victory.
Omar and Arsić lead PAOK to convincing victory
Egyptian international Yassin Omar was the standout scorer for PAOK with ten goals, while goalkeeper Igor Arsić delivered an exceptional performance with 18 saves.
Montenegrin right back Meris Bošnjak contributed seven goals, while Egyptian player Farad Ragab added six.
Greek international left winger Armando Sina scored five goals.
For Borac, Nikša Trivunović was the leading scorer with six goals, followed by Bubić with three.
Third-heaviest European defeat in Borac’s history
The 19-goal loss represents the third-heaviest defeat in Borac’s history in European club competitions.
The result is a major disappointment for the Banja Luka team, which had hoped to secure a competitive scoreline ahead of the return leg.
The second leg will take place on October 24 at 7 PM in Banja Luka, with PAOK holding a commanding advantage and Borac facing an almost impossible task of overturning the deficit.
Source: RTRS
