The matches with Danish teams. Viborg HK, Slagelse DT had to play in a freezing cold arena, while Ikast-Bording EH played at home in "Messecenter Herning".
Ikast-Bording qualifies for the 1/4-finals
Despite a poor performance in defence... Ikast-Bording EH managed to win their 4th successive Champions League-match and thereby qualify for the quarterfinals. This was the home teams 8th match in this month (January) and the hard program seemed to have taken some strenght out the Ikast-players. Buducnost chosed to man-mark the Ikast-playmaker(K.Andersen or Hammerseng) during the first half, but this had little effect as Milanovic played a fantastic first half and so did the two wings Touray and Daugaard(picture). Ikast went up with 4 goals (16-12), but had to settle with a 3 goals (18-15) margin at the break. A 2min. suspension and Buducnost equalized (18-18) 5 minutes into the second half. The home team was shaken and Buducnost kept their momentum scoring 2 further goals going up with 2 (18-20). At this point Ikast was far from the fantastic form they have shown in January (6won,1draw). Something had to be done and Ikast-coach Magnus Johansson took his timeout explaining to the players that they needed to show more fighting spirit and to work harder in the defence. As a clear result... Ikast took charge right away scoring 6 goals in a row (24-20)... from this point Ikast had control and won a comfortable(32-25), but not so impressive victory. Buducnost played much better than the two clubs first mutual entcounter in Podgorica(22-27 to Ikast).
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IKAST THROUGH TO THE QUARTERFINALS
The Danish side secured their fourth win in a row with what can be called an “intense” victory against Buducnost Monet.
The table celebrates Danish side Ikast-Bording after a brilliant display in January. Four matches and four victories is the fact so far in the Champions League Group A. Sunday was the fourth win in a row putting the Danish club through to the forthcoming quarterfinals – it was an intense victory against the Montenegro giants Buducnost Monet.
32-25 was the final score in Herning - an entertaining handball duel witnessed by 4000 spectators. But the game contained much more excitement than showed on the scoreboard. Although the Balkan guests only had a theoretical chance of advancement from the group stage, the Buducnost team played with passion and strong determination.
Throughout the game the unit from Podgorica laid solid pressure on the home team. Motivated by an Ikast victory only a fortnight ago, the Buducnost players started aggressively. Direct defence systems - such as 3:2:1 and 5:1- created problems for the Danish hosts. But the Balkan team also came with extreme pace in the offensive stage. Once again Polish profile Izabela Puchacz and Romanian power shooter, Gabriela Hobjila held their club inside the struggle.
Ikast was down 0-2, 3-5 and 4-6 before the yellowed jersey favourites found the rhythm. Led by a growing defence, the Danes began the goal scoring. Especially Ikast profile Tanja Milanovic played a tremendous first half. The Serbian star put eight goals in the net - five of these from the 7 metre spot. Also right winger Josephine Touray impressed with five goals.
Eight minutes before half time the score was 11-11. But then Ikast's strongest weapon - the counter attacks - were pushed in position. The home side forced the guests into a team timeout - after several good performances and an Ikast lead of 16-12. The Danes had the opportunity to extend the development, but instead Buducnost hit back. Within first half's dying seconds the away team held a spell over Ikast-Bording. The Danish side was 18-15 in front, but also a player down in the beginning of the second half.
After the break Ikast was stunned. In only five minutes Buducnost had turned the game around - from 15-18 to a 20-18 advantage. But the home team overcame the crises after yet another timeout - and yet another transformation in just five minutes. Ikast took the lead once again at 25-20. But the rebound didn't shock "the enemy". Buduconost found themselves back with four quick goals - including good skills from veteran Sandra Kolakovic. Only this time the last ticket was punched.
Josephine Touray - the best player of the match and also top scorer with 12 goals - and co-winger Line Daugaard confirmed their still improving form in the vital phase. The strong Ikast defence and keeper Karin Mortensen were stressing assets for the Buducnost players. The home team ran down the guests due to an explosive counter strategy. The score changed dramatically from 27-25 to 32-25. Despite of two group matches to come, Ikast has underlined their successful Champions League journey - Buducnost Monet however must accept the puncture of an European dream.
Text: Ole Bitsch
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Viborg HK slips in away game
Viborg HK faced a difficult, but not impossible task away against Dinamo AQUA Volgograd. A victory and Viborg would qualify for the quarterfinals. Viborg got a terrbile start to match going behind with 4 goals (7-3) and the nightmare continued during the first half. At one point Viborg was down with 6 (12-6) and didn't look like a one of the top favorites to take the title. In the start of the second half Viborg found their feet and showed some of what it takes... scoring the first 4 goals in the second half making the gap 1 (13-12). From this point it was small things that could decide the outcome of this clash. At 19-19 the match was all even and both teams had the chance to get the lead. Some 2min. suspension for Viborg and Volgograd went up with 3 goals (27-24), but Viborg was far from beaten. With two minutes remaining the gap was a single goal (28-27) and Viborg had the chance to secure an important draw, but Volgograd scored on the counter attack to secure the victory with 15 seconds left on the clock(29-27). This was a very disappointing result for Viborg HK... a team that has the ambition to go all the way in this years Champions League. Fruelund, Assink and Kiærskou were the best together with goalkeeper Bager Nørgaard.
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Slagelse DT - a step in the right direction
After humiliating loss in Skopje last weekend... Slagelse needed to restore their trust in themselves with a victory in Zaporoshye. Both teams started terrible much thanks to the 5 degrees in the arena(the spectators were sitting in the winter-jackets). 20 minutes into the game... Slagelse started to take charge going up with 5 goals (5-10). From this point the gap was only increasing. Zaporoshye had their best period right after the break making the gap as small as 4 goals (13-17), but Slagelse was clearly the better side tonight and with a great defence they secured a very impressive victory in Ukraine. Lungu, Fridrikas and Melgaard contributed to the fantastic margin of 12 goals(19-31). Goalkeeper Leganger had an easy job in Zaporoshye... taking allmost everything that would get thru the Slagelse-defence.
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DUNAFERR DEMOLISHES ASTROC SAGUNTO
Dunaferr played their first match after the tragic loss of their Hungarian international pivot, Anita Kulcsár in Sagunto. Even though the players had not experienced the athmosphere of a high-stake clash for nearly a fortnight, they were quite determined and promised that they would do their utmost to commemorate their deceased teammate with an away victory.
Before the first whistle, the Spanish organizers paid a touching tribute to Kulcsár by playing a video featuring some of her finest goals projected on a giant screen. The home players, who had faced her as an opponent on the court two weeks before, were also visibly moved. The two team’s captains walked hand in hand to an empty chair that had Kulcsár’s No. 22 jersey laid on it and jointly placed their flowers on it.
After the sad moments, the handballers began to focus on the game, and the two side’s sharp shooters, Medved and Radulovics showed their value again early in the match. Both teams applied the characteristic 3-2-1 defence. Cristina Mayo’s girls have indeed learned this system very well, Oncina showed an excellent performance at the top of this pyramid formation. However, the home side could not utilise their opportunities efficiently enough, as Pálinger was brilliant, especially against the wings, but she saved several centre shots as well. Dunaferr excelled in fastbreaks, their tight defence threw the Spanish attackers off balance and the steals often resulted in quick goals by Nagy and Pigniczki. By the middle of the first half, the visitors amassed a significant lead (7-12), which Medved’s side could only reduce somewhat before the break (13-17).
The high tempo was even increased a little bit in the second half. The game was very spectacular with fine players on both sides, but the more experienced Hungarian team outperformed the hosts in every aspect of handball. Pálinger, who was in top form throughout the clash, showed some of the finest saves of her life, intimidating the wings and even the seasoned Medved, who missed several penalties. However, the home side did their utmost to win on home soil and did manage to reduce the gap to 3 goals in the 54th minute. At that point, Dunaferr’s Szilárd Kiss had a timeout and must have given some very useful advice to his players, as they produced a 4-0 run in the final five minutes, earning an away victory of 26-33.
A proper homage to the memory of a tragically lost teammate, indeed.
Text: Sandor Joo
http://www.handball.hu
