Viljandi Edge Šviesa 21–20 in Baltic Handball League Thriller

October 10, 2026

Viljandi HC/LEONHARD WEISS claimed a dramatic 21–20 away victory over VHC Šviesa in the Baltic Handball League on Saturday, October 10, securing the points after a closely contested match that remained undecided until the final seconds.

Viljandi held a narrow 9–8 advantage at half-time before Šviesa turned the game around early in the second half. The hosts drew level at 9–9 shortly after the restart and then moved ahead 11–9, with Šarūnas Ugianskis and Tobias Fors helping Šviesa take control.

The lead changed direction again midway through the second half. Viljandi recovered from a 13–12 deficit with three consecutive goals to move 15–13 ahead, but Šviesa responded once more. Goals from Sarunas Vizinis and Domantas Ivanauskas brought the hosts back to 16–16 with just under 14 minutes remaining.

The closing stages were particularly tense. Viljandi edged ahead 18–16, only for Šviesa to fight back through Ernestas Stvolas, who scored three times during an important late spell and levelled the contest at 19–19 with 3:36 remaining.

Viljandi had the decisive answer. Andrii Basarab restored the visitors’ lead at 20–19 before Karl Roosna made it 21–19 with less than two minutes to play. Colton Theodore Kuypers immediately reduced the deficit to one, giving Šviesa another opportunity to rescue the match.

Neither side was able to score again. Viljandi missed an opportunity at the other end, but Šviesa’s final attack also ended without a goal, leaving the Estonian side celebrating a narrow 21–20 victory.

The result represented a significant turnaround from the teams’ previous Baltic Handball League meeting on December 20, 2025, when Šviesa won 37–24 away against Viljandi.

Šarūnas Ugianskis led Šviesa with five goals from nine attempts. Colton Theodore Kuypers and Ernestas Stvolas both added four goals, while Domantas Ivanauskas, Sarunas Vizinis and Tobias Fors scored twice each.

Viljandi shared the scoring responsibilities effectively. Andrii Basarab and Karl Roosna were the visitors’ leading scorers with four goals apiece, Aleksander Pertelson added three, while Serhii Dubovyk, Jaan-Paul Varik, Johannes Pertelson and Ott Varik each scored twice.

Šviesa will particularly rue their opportunities from the seven-metre line. The hosts converted only two of their eight recorded penalty attempts, with several misses coming during the decisive second half.

Baltic Handball League
VHC Šviesa – Viljandi HC/LEONHARD WEISS 20:21 (8:9)

Top scorers

VHC Šviesa: Šarūnas Ugianskis 5, Colton Theodore Kuypers 4, Ernestas Stvolas 4, Domantas Ivanauskas 2, Sarunas Vizinis 2, Tobias Fors 2.

Viljandi HC/LEONHARD WEISS: Andrii Basarab 4, Karl Roosna 4, Aleksander Pertelson 3, Serhii Dubovyk 2, Jaan-Paul Varik 2, Johannes Pertelson 2, Ott Varik 2.