HC Dragūnas Klaipėda Edge Põlva Serviti 32:31 in Thriller to Claim Revenge Victory

November 29, 2025

HC Dragūnas Klaipėda delivered a dramatic and hard-fought 32:31 home victory over Estonian champions Põlva Serviti on Saturday afternoon, overturning their previous season’s defeat and securing an important Baltic Handball League win in front of their home supporters.

The intense contest, played in Klaipėda, showcased elite-level handball marked by swift offensive transitions, precise seven-meter execution, and a nail-biting final minute.

Strong Starts and Swings

Põlva Serviti opened the match aggressively, racing to a 0:2 lead within the first minute—both goals from Carl-Eric Uibo. Dragūnas responded quickly behind Daniil Plakhotin and Filip Hrnjak, turning the momentum to 5:3.

Penalty Masterclass

Dragūnas’ standout shooter Lukas Juškėnas delivered a perfect 7/7 from the seven-meter line, time and again keeping his team in the match during Serviti’s surges. His consistency proved vital, especially as the first half ended narrowly in Serviti’s favor (16:17).

Mid-Second-Half Breakthrough

Around the 36th–47th minute, Dragūnas constructed a game-defining run:

• Hrnjak, Paiva, and Virbauskas powered Dragūnas ahead to 27:24.
• The home side capitalized on Serviti’s penalty troubles, with multiple two-minute suspensions weakening the visitors’ defensive structure.

Late Drama

Serviti never surrendered. Goals from Hendrik Varul and Tõnis Kase cut the deficit to 31:30 and later 32:31. In the final seconds, Serviti had possession with a chance to equalize, but Stanislav Kholodiuk’s shot missed, sealing Dragūnas’ triumphant victory.

Top Performers

HC Dragūnas Klaipėda

• Lukas Juškėnas (#17) – 7 goals (all from 7m), 100% efficiency.
  The match’s most reliable scorer and primary clutch performer.
• Filip Hrnjak (#94) – 6 goals from 6 shots.
  A flawless shooting day and constant threat on the wing.
• Daniil Plakhotin (#33) – 5 goals, significant early impact.
  Played aggressively but received multiple suspensions that intensified late-game pressure.
• Deividas Virbauskas (#39) – 4 goals, including vital strikes in second-half momentum swings.
• Emmanuel Ferreira Paiva (#18) – 3 goals, including the decisive 32nd Dragūnas goal.

Põlva Serviti

• Hendrik Varul (#66) – 7 goals.
  Serviti’s most dynamic attacker, dominating in the first half and sparking late hope.
• Kermo Saksing (#6) – 6 goals + 1 penalty, but with crucial late misses and two suspensions.
• Tõnis Kase (#3) – 6 goals, including Serviti’s final strike at 58:50.
• Carl-Eric Uibo (#24) – 4 goals, all early in the game, providing the explosive opening.
• Kristofer Liedemann (#21) – 3 goals, stabilizing the team during key moments.

Turning Points

• Superior penalty execution: Dragūnas went 8/8 from the seven-meter line, while Serviti missed twice.
• Discipline issues for Serviti: Multiple two-minute suspensions disrupted defensive stability.
• Dragūnas’ 27:24 run: A three-goal burst created the cushion ultimately needed to survive Serviti’s late push.
• Final miss by Serviti: Kholodiuk’s failed shot at 59:59 sealed the outcome.