Čėsna Shines as Dragūnas Klaipėda Defeat Tenax

September 20, 2025

HC Dragūnas Klaipėda delivered an emphatic performance on Saturday afternoon, defeating Latvian side ZRHK Tenax Dobele 36–28 in a thrilling Baltic Handball League clash. With a strong second-half surge and standout performances from their attacking leaders, the Lithuanian champions confirmed their dominance at home.

Key Moments

The match opened with an intense exchange of goals. ZRHK Tenax Dobele’s Ņikita Pančenko struck first, but HC Dragūnas immediately answered through Paulius Čėsna, who quickly set the tone with two consecutive goals. The first half remained balanced, with Dobele repeatedly capitalizing on seven-meter throws, largely converted by Pančenko, who scored five times from the penalty line.

Despite Dobele’s resistance, Dragūnas found rhythm midway through the half. Goals from Lukas Juškėnas and Deividas Virbauskas pushed Klaipėda ahead 18–16 at the break.

The second half saw Dragūnas step up their tempo and efficiency. Čėsna continued his clinical finishing, while Virbauskas and Karolis Stropus added crucial strikes to extend the lead. A decisive five-goal run after halftime (21–18 to 26–20) broke the visitors’ resistance, with Tenax unable to recover despite Pančenko’s consistent threat.

By the final minutes, Dragūnas were in full control. A late goal from Čėsna sealed the 36–28 win, delighting the home supporters.

Top Performers

HC Dragūnas Klaipėda

• Paulius Čėsna (#21) – Top scorer: 8 goals from 8 attempts, including a penalty. A flawless attacking display and the heartbeat of Dragūnas’ offense.
• Deividas Virbauskas (#39) – 6 goals, vital in the second-half surge.
• Karolis Stropus (#55) – 4 goals, including a seven-meter throw, adding balance in attack.
• Arvydas Bučius (#5) – 3 goals, impactful in key phases.

ZRHK Tenax Dobele

• Ņikita Pančenko (#2) – Team’s best: 8 goals (5 from seven meters), carrying much of Dobele’s scoring load.
• Mārtiņš Misulis (#4) – 4 goals, supported Pančenko in the first half.
• Ričards Juzups (#21) – 3 goals, including one from the penalty line, late in the second half.

Discipline and Physical Battle

The match was not without intensity. Dragūnas saw multiple suspensions, with Emmanuel Gustavo Ferreira Paiva receiving three two-minute penalties. For Tenax, Kristers Suharevs and Aliaksandr Patsykailik were both penalized as defensive pressure mounted. Despite this, Dragūnas managed the man-down situations effectively, preventing Dobele from capitalizing.