EHF Champions League

Plock have reason to celebrate despite defeat

Björn Pazen / jw

29 February 2020, 18:30

Plock have reason to celebrate despite defeat

After the 32:25 home victory in the first leg last weekend, Orlen Wisla Plock had no big problems qualifying for the Last 16.

In the VELUX EHF Champions League Match of The Week, the Polish side lost 24:19 at Bidasoa Irun, but they ended the international journey of the 1995 EHF Champions League winners.

Plock made it to the Last 16 for the sixth time in their club history and for the first time since 2012

the Polish runners-up will face Veszprém in the Last 16 - a special pairing for Plock coach Xavier Sabate, who previously coached Veszprém

for the second season in a row, Plock won their group phase knockout tie after eliminating Bjerringbro-Silkeborg in 2019

Irun's loss is the fourth time that a Spanish side has lost in the group phase knockout round

Leo Renaud-David (six goals) top-scored by for Irun, while VELUX Player of the Match Zoltan Szita scored seven for Plock

GROUP PHASE KNOCKOUT
MOTW: Bidasoa Irun (ESP) vs Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 24:19 (10:12)
Wisla Plock won 51:49 on aggregate

It was a farewell in style for Bidasoa Irun. 24 years after their last appearance in the EHF Champions League, when they were finalists against FC Barcelona, the Spanish side finished their adventure in the top-flight competition on Saturday victorious.

But the 24:19 victory against Orlen Wisla Plock was not enough to make it to the Last 16.

Plock had decided the encounter already in the middle of the first half, leading 10:7, an overall gap of 10 goals.

In the first half, the team of Xavier Sabate were highly focused in defence and patient in attack, and they could count on the saves of goalkeeper Ivan Stevanovic, who finished with nine saves on his account.

Irun never gave up, showing morale and character, and they made their fans happy with a 5:1 run to take their first lead in the match, 13:12.

WATCH: What's better than one in-flight goal? Two in-flight goals! @CDBidasoaIrun and @SPRWisla have shown some sensational skill in the #MOTW. #IRUPLO #ehfcl pic.twitter.com/8IOwK4Dggj
— EHF Champions League (@ehfcl) February 29, 2020

But when Hungarian left back Zoltan Szika, who was the Player of the Match presented by VELUX, netted his seventh goal to level the score at 18:18, the deal was sealed.

Despite Irun's strong comeback and a 6:1 run in the last 11 minutes, it was too tough for the Spanish side to turn the tie around.