ASK/MSĢ Clinch Dramatic One-Goal Victory Over Granitas-Karys

December 20, 2025

ASK/MSĢ secured a dramatic 27:26 home victory over Granitas-Karys on Saturday afternoon in the Baltic Handball League, deciding the match in the final seconds after an intense, high-tempo battle that kept spectators on edge until the last whistle.

After trailing 11:12 at halftime, ASK/MSĢ showed resilience and composure in the second half to overturn the deficit and claim their second win of the season against Granitas-Karys, having also prevailed 28:24 in the teams’ previous meeting in September.

Match Summary

The match began with a strong start from ASK/MSĢ, who raced into a commanding 9:4 lead in the opening quarter, powered by early goals from Valdis Kalniņš. However, Granitas-Karys gradually found their rhythm, with Simas Butkus and Benediktas Labutis leading a comeback that saw the visitors edge ahead 12:11 by halftime.

The second half turned into a tightly contested duel, with neither team able to build more than a two-goal advantage. Granitas-Karys briefly took the lead late in the match (22:25 in the 55th minute), but ASK/MSĢ responded with remarkable determination.

The closing minutes belonged to Kalniņš, who scored repeatedly under pressure. After leveling the score at 26:26 in the 59th minute, ASK/MSĢ called a timeout to set up the decisive attack. With just 20 seconds remaining, Kalniņš struck again to make it 27:26. Granitas-Karys had one final chance, but their last attempt was missed, sealing a dramatic victory for the home side.

Key Moments

• ASK/MSĢ opened the match with a dominant 9:4 run in the first 16 minutes.
• Granitas-Karys turned the game around before halftime to lead 12:11.
• A red card to Granitas-Karys’ Marius Kairys in the 43rd minute added further tension to an already intense second half.
• ASK/MSĢ scored five of the final seven goals, including the match-winner in the final 20 seconds.

Top Performers

ASK/MSĢ

• Valdis Kalniņš (#19) was the undisputed star of the match, scoring an outstanding 15 goals from 18 shots, including a crucial seven-meter throw and the game-winning goal.
• Markuss Ikvils (#10) added 4 goals, providing key contributions during critical phases.
• Kristers Rihards Ozols (#10) and Markuss Ikvils helped stabilize the attack in the second half.

Granitas-Karys

• Benediktas Labutis (#2) led the visitors with 10 goals, including 5 from seven-meter throws.
• Simas Butkus (#3) was also influential, scoring 9 goals and keeping Granitas-Karys in contention until the final seconds.
• Gytis Zadarnauskas (#17) contributed important goals during Granitas-Karys’ late surge.