HC Dragunas turn second-half battle into 32–27 victory over Tallinna Mistra

September 26, 2026

HC Dragunas Klaipeda produced a strong finish to overcome Tallinna Mistra 32–27 in the Baltic Handball League on Saturday, turning around a one-goal half-time deficit in a tightly contested encounter.

Mistra went into the break leading 15–14 and remained in contention deep into the second half, but Dragunas took control in the decisive final minutes. With the teams level at 26–26 with less than seven minutes remaining, the Lithuanian side outscored Mistra 6–1 to secure the five-goal victory.

The opening stages set the tone for a competitive match. Dragunas started strongly and led 7–5 after less than seven minutes, with Daniil Plakhotin scoring four early goals. Mistra quickly responded, however, and four goals from Arno Vare during the opening nine minutes helped the visitors move ahead 8–7.

Neither side was able to establish a decisive advantage during the remainder of the first half. Mistra stretched the margin to three goals at 13–10, before Dragunas responded through Arturas Budraitis and two goals from Deividas Virbauskas to level the match at 13–13.

Goals from Vare and Kert Liinat helped Mistra regain the initiative before Mykolas Lapiniauskas scored just before the interval, leaving the visitors with a narrow 15–14 advantage at half-time.

Dragunas immediately drew level after the restart and Plakhotin put the hosts ahead 16–15. The lead continued to change hands before Mistra enjoyed one of its strongest periods of the match. Patrick Padjus scored three times in a short spell as the visitors moved from 18–18 to a 21–18 advantage.

Dragunas refused to let the game get away. Virbauskas reduced the deficit before further goals from him and Budraitis brought the hosts level at 22–22. Lukas Juskenas then converted from the seven-metre line to complete a 3–0 run and put Dragunas ahead 23–22.

Mistra responded once again. Vare’s goal at 48:48 restored a 25–24 advantage for the Tallinn side, but Lapiniauskas immediately equalised.

The match remained on a knife edge entering the final stages. Virbauskas made it 26–25 before Padjus levelled the score at 26–26 with 6:27 remaining.

From that moment, Dragunas took command.

Matas Kairys restored the home lead before Lapiniauskas made it 28–26. Although Vare answered for Mistra, Dragunas produced four unanswered goals through Lapiniauskas, Juskenas and another two from Lapiniauskas to close out the contest.

Lapiniauskas scored the final goal of the match to complete the 32–27 victory and finish as Dragunas’ leading scorer with seven goals from 11 attempts.

Dragunas had several important contributors in a balanced attacking performance. Deividas Virbauskas scored six goals from eight shots, while Daniil Plakhotin was perfect with five goals from five attempts. Lukas Juskenas added five goals, including three successful seven-metre throws, while Paulius Čėsna contributed four.

For Tallinna Mistra, Arno Vare was the outstanding individual scorer of the match with 12 goals from 20 attempts, including two seven-metre goals. Patrick Padjus added five goals from eight attempts, while Kert Liinat scored three.

Final score: HC Dragunas Klaipeda 32–27 Tallinna Mistra
Half-time: 14–15

Top scorers

HC Dragunas Klaipeda: Mykolas Lapiniauskas 7, Deividas Virbauskas 6, Daniil Plakhotin 5, Lukas Juskenas 5, Paulius Čėsna 4.

Tallinna Mistra: Arno Vare 12, Patrick Padjus 5, Kert Liinat 3, Aron Leppik 2, Alvar Soikka 2.