HC Kharkiv fall just short against Khmelnytskyi — 29:31

On October 3, HC Kharkiv played their second match of Round 2 of the Ukrainian Handball Super League against HC Khmelnytskyi. After the defeat in the first game of the round, Kharkiv produced a much tighter contest, with the outcome remaining undecided until the closing minutes.

The first half began evenly. The score was 1:1 in the 4th minute, 3:3 in the 9th and 6:6 in the 15th. The teams were still level at 8:8 in the 18th minute before Khmelnytskyi began to build an advantage. From 10:9, the hosts moved ahead to 13:9 and eventually went into half-time leading 16:12.

HC Kharkiv responded strongly after the break. By the 35th minute, the four-goal deficit had completely disappeared as Kharkiv levelled the game at 18:18. From that point, the match developed into a close battle, with the scoreboard showing 20:19, 22:20, 24:22 and 25:23.

Kharkiv closed the gap to just one goal at 27:26 in the 50th minute. Khmelnytskyi managed to restore a three-goal advantage at 29:26, but Kharkiv continued to fight. With around a minute and a half remaining, the score stood at 30:29, leaving the result open until the final moments.

Khmelnytskyi ultimately secured the victory, with the final whistle confirming a 31:29 result.

HC Kharkiv produced a strong second half, erased a four-goal half-time deficit and remained in contention until the closing moments. The team fell just short of completing the comeback, but the second game of the round proved to be a much closer contest on the scoreboard.

Final score: HC Khmelnytskyi — HC Kharkiv — 31:29 (16:12).