2013 winners cruise into Last 16
2013 winners cruise into Last 16
Team Tvis Holstebro, who won the Women´s EHF Cup in the 2012/13 season, had no problems at all qualifying for the Last 16 of the tournament this season.
In one of the three doubleheaders in the competition this weekend, the Danish team defeated HB Dudelange from Luxembourg 45:18 in the first leg on Saturday, and even more clearly Sunday, when the Danish visitors won 50:18.
“Of course, everything was decided already Saturday, but still the players managed to stay focused on Sunday too,” Team Tvis Holstebro coach Niels Agesen told the club's website.
There was no doubt about the total result in the other two doubleheaders this weekend either.
On home ground in Hungary, ÉRD HC defeated SPONO Nottwil from Switzerland 33:18 on Saturday and 32:21 Sunday, while Handball Club Lada from Russia sent Norwegian Stabaek out of the tournament after a 37:29 win Saturday and a 32:23 victory Sunday, both matches in the Sportkomplex USK “Olimp” in Togliatti.
Another Russian team, Rostov-Don are determined to win the tournament, and they may still do, but they cannot feel too sure, after 2,500 spectators saw them win 26:21 at home against DHK Banik Most Saturday. Rostov-Don will have to concentrate in the return match in the Czech Republic on the coming Saturday in order to defend this five-goal lead.
12 goals from centre back Maria Suarez helped the current number one in the Spanish league, Rocasa Gran Canaria considerably in their 28:24 win in Sweden against Lugi Lund.
With 11 minutes left, the visitors were leading 24:15, but the hosts reduced the deficit remarkably at the end.
“We increased the pace in the last ten minutes and went back into a 6:0 defence. That disturbed their rhythm,” back court player Jenny Carlsson explained to the official website of the Swedish Handball Federation.
Last season, Team Esbjerg made it to the final of the tournament, and the current number one in the Danish league should be sure to get at least to the Last 16 this season after their 33:22 win in Slovenia against RK GEN-I Zagorje.
Already at half time, the visitors were leading 19:7 and head coach Lars Frederiksen was a quite happy man after the convincing win.
“I am particularly happy about our performance in the first half, where we practically did not make a single mistake,” Frederiksen told the newspaper JyskeVestkysten.
See all of the weekend's results here.
