HK Vardar secured a narrow 31-30 victory over hosts HK Kumanovo in the Superliga on Saturday evening. The result keeps Vardar's unbeaten start intact while Kumanovo remain winless after two games. And here's the thing — the margin tells the story of a match decided by a single moment.
Kumanovo started the season with two draws, including a 27-25 win over RK Tinekss Prolet Skoprie in May. To be fair, their recent form has dipped, with losses to Prilep 31-38 and Železničar 29-36. Vardar arrived with two wins but came off a 31-33 defeat to MT Melzungen on Wednesday.
We had called for the away side to win, with 68 per cent confidence. The prediction held up, though the narrow scoreline suggests Kumanovo were closer than expected. By then, the momentum had shifted in Vardar's favour, and they ground out the win.
The standings now show Vardar in second place with four points from two victories. Kumanovo sit ninth with zero points, a gap that reflects the difference in form between the two sides. The hosts have yet to find a breakthrough this season.
What mattered was the finish. Kumanovo pressed until the final whistle but could not find an equaliser. Vardar's experience in tight games showed through when it mattered most.