Maccabi Holon Eliminated From European Cup After Penalty Shootout Loss

Maccabi "Yubalim" Holon has been eliminated from the European Cup after losing a dramatic second-leg match to Belye of Bulgaria. The Bulgarian team won the second leg 31:29, leveling the aggregate score at 63:63 after Holon had won the first leg 34:32. The tie was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout, which Belye won 4:3, advancing to the next round.

Despite trailing significantly at times during the match, Holon showed great character and managed to close the gap. However, the penalty shootout proved to be their undoing, resulting in a "bitter defeat." Belye started strong, taking an early 3:0 lead, but Holon fought back. The Bulgarian team extended their lead to five goals at one point in the first half, and Holon went into halftime trailing by five.

In the second half, Holon continued to battle, reducing the deficit to just two goals, 22:20. Although Belye managed to pull ahead again by four goals, Holon kept fighting, narrowing the gap to three goals late in the game. A steal and a goal in the final minute by Liran Zaguri made the score 31:29, but Belye missed their final attack, sending the game to penalties.

Liran Zaguri was Holon's top scorer with 9 goals, followed by Ivandra Geraldo with 6, and Lina Issakov and Noam Krief with 5 each. Shira Moreno scored 3, Vicky Opergo 2, and Agam Elkayam and Michelle Bochtarov added 1 each. Goalkeepers Paulina Bazlauda made 7 saves (18% success rate) and Noam Ben Hamo made 3 saves (42% success rate).