Lokomotiva Zagreb women claimed a 29:22 victory over Ivanich in the 1st Women's Handball League on Thursday, bringing an end to the hosts' unbeaten start to the campaign. The result shifts the table significantly, with the visitors moving clear at the top while the home side drops further behind.
Ivanich had looked composed in their previous outings, scoring 39 goals against Virovitica and 36 against Marina Kaštela in back-to-back matches. Lokomotiva Zagreb came into this fixture with their own impressive record, including a 38:27 win over ŽRK Zrinjski just two days earlier. To be fair, both sides brought momentum into this encounter.
The standing before kickoff told you what was at stake. Lokomotiva Zagreb sat top of the table with ten points from five games, while Ivanich occupied third place on eight points after four victories and one draw. The gap between them was narrow, which made this match feel like a proper test rather than a formality.
By then, the visitors had proven they could score freely. Their recent tally included 42 goals against Virovitica and 40 against Marina Kaštela, showing an attacking threat that doesn't disappear away from home. The 29 goals they netted at Ivanich suggests they kept knocking on the door and found their rhythm when it mattered most.
The hosts' defensive frailties became apparent in the final minutes, allowing Lokomotiva to pull away and secure all three points. And here's the thing — they'll need to tighten up if they want to stay in the conversation for the title race.
