Viljandi HC Edge Pasvalio Pieno žvaigždės in Dramatic Thriller

December 21, 2025

Viljandi HC secured a thrilling 26:25 home victory over Pasvalio Pieno žvaigždės in a pulsating Baltic Handball League encounter, decided in the final seconds after a dramatic second half comeback and late winner.

The match, played on Sunday afternoon, was level at the break (12:12) despite Viljandi’s explosive opening. The home side stormed into the game with a commanding 9:2 lead inside the first ten minutes, driven by sharp finishing from Johannes Pertelson and confident seven-meter conversions by Hendrik Koks. Pasvalio Pieno žvaigždės, however, showed resilience, gradually clawing their way back through disciplined defense and key goals from Oleksandr Kasai and Modestas Štarolis to level the score by halftime.

The second half saw momentum swing decisively toward the visitors. Pasvalio Pieno žvaigždės took their first lead early after the restart and extended it to 18:15 midway through the half, capitalizing on Viljandi misses and multiple suspensions. Kasai was particularly influential from the seven-meter line, while Karolis Piragis and Roman Litynskyi added important goals to keep the pressure on the hosts.

Viljandi HC responded with composure in the final ten minutes. Goals from Hendrik Koks, Jaan-Paul Varik, and Sten Maasalu brought the home side back level at 24:24, setting up a tense finish. After Pasvalio regained a narrow 25:24 advantage, Varik coolly converted a decisive seven-meter throw in the 58th minute to equalize once more.

With the clock ticking down, Viljandi HC found the decisive breakthrough. In the final minute, Serhii Dubovyk rose to the occasion, scoring the winning goal at 59:58 to send the home crowd into celebration. Pasvalio Pieno žvaigždės had one last chance, but Domantas Pukas’ final attempt was denied, sealing the 26:25 victory.

Top Performers

• Viljandi HC:
  • Hendrik Koks – 6 goals, including 2 from seven meters
  • Johannes Pertelson – 6 goals in a strong all-around performance
  • Jaan-Paul Varik – Perfect from the line with 4 goals, including the crucial late equalizer
  • Serhii Dubovyk – 3 goals, capped by the match-winning strike
• Pasvalio Pieno žvaigždės:
  • Oleksandr Kasai – 6 goals, flawless from seven meters
  • Modestas Štarolis – 6 goals and constant attacking threat
  • Karolis Piragis – 4 goals and key contributions during the comeback

The result follows Viljandi HC’s convincing 36:24 away win over the same opponents earlier this season in September, but this time the contest went down to the very last second.