Mistra claim bronze after dramatic last-second victory over Šviesa

April 12, 2026

Mistra secured third place with a thrilling 30:29 win over VHC Šviesa in a dramatic bronze medal match that was decided in the final seconds.

In a fiercely contested encounter filled with momentum swings, disqualifications, and late drama, Mistra held their nerve to finish the Final 4 on the podium.

Chaotic start and early drama

The match began with both teams struggling to find rhythm, missing several early chances before Mistra opened the scoring from the seven-meter line. The opening minutes quickly turned chaotic, as Mistra lost two key players early — Serhii Orlovskyi and Anton Barouski were both disqualified within the first 12 minutes.

Despite this setback, Mistra responded impressively. Arno Vare took control in attack, while Vahur Oolup added crucial goals to build an early advantage. Mistra led 16:15 at halftime after maintaining a narrow edge throughout the first half.

Neck-and-neck battle until the final seconds

The second half saw neither side able to break away, with the score remaining within one or two goals for most of the period. Šviesa stayed close thanks to strong performances from Matas Aukstikalnis and Šarūnas Ugianskis, who consistently punished defensive gaps.

Mistra, however, continued to find answers through Vare and Karl Roosna, keeping their noses in front heading into the final minutes.

With the score tied at 29:29 in the last minute, tension peaked. After a missed penalty from Vare and multiple unsuccessful attempts from Šviesa, Mistra earned one final possession. With the clock expiring, Vare stepped up and scored the decisive goal at 60:00 to seal a dramatic 30:29 victory.

Top performers

Vare was the hero of the match, finishing with 9 goals, including the game-winner. He was supported by Oolup (5 goals), Aron Leppik (5 goals), and Roosna (4 goals).

For Šviesa, Aukstikalnis led with 6 goals, while Ugianskis also scored 6, and Alan Bogdiun contributed 4 goals in a strong offensive effort that ultimately fell just short.

Bronze secured

With this victory, Mistra conclude their campaign with bronze medals, bouncing back after their semi-final defeat to finish the tournament on a high note.

VHC Šviesa, despite a strong performance, finish just outside the podium after another closely contested battle in the Final 4.