Zagreb's Lokomotiva defeated Koprivnica's Podravka 32-30 (14:16) in a Regional League match played on Friday at the 'Box of Matches'. It was Lokomotiva's second match in the new competition, while Podravka played their third and suffered their second defeat.
The Regional League resumed after a two-month break. Lokomotiva is managed by Silvio Ivandija, and this match served as a dress rehearsal ahead of their first European League qualifying match against Sweden's Boden. Lokomotiva had previously drawn against Krim in Ljubljana.
The visitors held a two-goal lead after the first 30 minutes, but Lokomotiva came from behind to win in the second half. With Lokomotiva leading 31-30, goalkeeper Tea Pijević saved a penalty from Tina Barišić, and the home team confirmed the victory with a goal from Stela Posavec in the remaining 52 seconds. Posavec scored her fifth goal of the match.
In the winning team, Kristina Prkačin and Lana Strugar also scored five goals each, while 19-year-old Antea Čičak and Ema Balaško added four goals each. For Podravka, the most effective players were Katarina Pandžić and Andrea Šimara with seven goals each. Podravka's coach is Ivica Obrvan.
Lokomotiva and Podravka are in Group A of the Regional League alongside Ljubljana's Krim and Belgrade's Crvena zvezda. Krim has three points from three appearances, Lokomotiva has three points from two matches, and Podravka have earned two points in three games. Crvena zvezda still have to play their first match, and they visit Ljubljana on Saturday.
