Deserved Fiesta in Szeged

Pick Szeged were preparing for a gala performance at home at the closing game of Group H as they hosted Belarus Brest Meshkov. The guests, however, needed points to keep their Cup Winners’ Cup chances alive.

The two sides went head to head at the beginning and it seemed that all players want to put their names on the scoring list.

There were more than four minutes of pause in scoring at 4-5, when Zvizej scored from 7-m shot. Another long break followed and it was only 6-5 in the 20th minute.

Puljezevic saved very well, but the Hungarian players were very inaccurate in attack, so the result was blocked for a long time.

Line player, Herbert, suffered an ankle injury and had to finish the game early. Szeged tried to get some advantage, but they were two men down and the guests came back again. Mochalov and Kurilenko gave Brest a 8-9 lead. The hosts could improve before halftime and they took a 12-9 lead.

The Belarus side changed goalkeeper for the second half: Kraynov was replaced by Sakalouski. Astrouski, Kurilenko and Ragozin were leading the attacks and they levelled the game within 10 minutes (17-17).

Quick decision

However, it was too much for them and they could not react to the high pace of Pick in the following minutes. The hosts scored virtually whenever they wanted and it was quickly 26-18.

Both teams brought in new goalkeepers for the last ten minutes: the third goalie of Brest came in, while coach Matic gave Puljezevic a rest. Mochalov and the other Belarus players could only assist a clear Hungarian victory in the last minutes.

The match ended 33-24 and it may mean a psychological advantage for Pick Szeged in the CL that they closed the group matches with 100% performance. Brest Meshkov finished fourth in the group.