The new world handball player of the year, goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer, was the matchwinner for THW Kiel, as the German won again in the Palau Blaugrana in Barcelonalike last season. Kiel, Ciudad Real, Kolding and Zagreb are currently the only teams after matchday 2 of the EHF Champions League, that remain spotless.
Chechovski Medvedi is the specialist for tied matches, as they made heir second draw in the second match. Like one week before in Szeged, they tied in Valladolid. Veszprem took their first points by winning very clearly in Chambery. FCK won against debutant Fyllingen from Norway, and Velenje won the Balcan match against Bosna very closely.
Valladolid in group A, Löwen and Kielce in group B (all with three points), Ciudad and Zagreb (each 4) in group C and Kiel (4) in group D are the current leaders in the competition. Read the summary of the Sunday’s matches.
Group A:
Pevafersa Valladolid – Chechovski Medvedi 34:34 (17:19)
Even ten goals of Norwegian Harvard Tvedten had not been enough for Valladolid to beat the Russian champion Chechovski Medvedi on home soil. Chechov was constantly in lead until the middle of the second halftime, then Valladolid took over. But the Spanish team was not able to increase the lead to mostly more than one goal – except the final stage, when the team of coach Pasztor seemed to have decided the match at the score of 34:31. In the very end, Chechov scored three consecutive goals and took an deserved point- the second draw after the match in Szeged. Valladolid now has three points on their account. Topscorers for Chechov were Shelmenko and Chernoivanow with each six goals.
Group B:
Chambery Savoie –MKB Veszprem 19:29 (10:16)
Black day for Chambery, first points for Veszprem in an outstanding manner: Chambery only played equal in the first 12 minutes, as they were leading, but afterwards the Hungarians overran the French. After the 7:4 Chambery only scored three goals in 18 minutes, Veszprem extended the lead to 16:10 –and pre decided the match right after the break. In the end, the distance was ten goals – the biggest defeat on home soil for Chambery in their CL history. “We lack so many experience”, Chambery player Guillaume Joli said: “Veszprem has so many experienced players, but in the end, I was sad that 3200 people had paid money for the tickets of this match.”
Gorenje Velenje – Bosna Gas Sarajewo 30:29 (15:17)
Highest tension in Gorenje: It was a very special situation that even a Bosnian became the matchwinner for Gorenje in the match against Bosna. 26 second before the end, Harmandic scored the decisive goal for Gorenje – it was his seventh one in this dramatic match. Bosna was leading right from the very beginning. As Zvizey scored the 23:22 it was the first lead for the Slovenians. “Mr. Comeback”, winger Ivan Cupic (seven goals), was one of the decisive players for Velenje, as he scored the important 28:27.But Bosna fought hard, equalized again, before Harmandic brought the first two points to Velenje. Best Bosna scorer was Doborac with seven goals. For Danijel Ridic, assistant coach of Bosna, the number of mistakes in halftime two cost the Bosnians the victory. Nebojsa Grahovac, the Bosna goalkeeper, said, “that we missed the luck that we had as we had won against Chambery”. Gorenje coach Ivica Obrvan said: “We were the lucky ones, but we did everything, we could to win those two points.”
Group C:
FCK Handbold –Fyllingen Handball 35:21 (17:8)
After losing clearly in Ciudad Real on matchday 1,FCK took revenge against the Norwegians from Fyllingen. There was a great difference between the Northern teams, specially in halftime two, as Fyllingen missed power and endurance. FCK was leading 12:3, as goalkeeper Kaspoer Hvidt showed an outstanding performance. After the 14:4, Fyllingen came closer until the break, but then FCK played like a top team, concentrated and with high speed. The Norwegians Erlend Mamelund and Thomas Drange, who played in Fyllingen before, then decided the match against the team from their home country.
Group D:
FC Barcelona – THW Kiel 27:30 (17:20)
13 was the lucky number for Kiel: In the 13. direct encounter of those European top teams, Kiel took their eight victory, and the second consecutive one in Palau Blaugrana after last season.Even as David Barrufet played a very strong match, the other goalkeeper made the difference: Thierry Omeyer, who saved 22 shots, including four penalties. Kiel was leading until the middle of the second halftime, before the Barcelona defence improved and the Kiel attacks lacked some concentration, specially on the back court players. As Barca was in lead 24:23, the more than 4200 spectators went loud, but the host missed too many chances against Omeyer to be able to win. Three consecutive goals of THW decided the match in the final stage. Topscorers were Tomas (6) for Barcelona and Jicha (7) for Kiel.
“It’s very difficult to win in Barcelona, but it’s a something very special to play and to win here”, matchwinner Omeyer said: “It’s a pleasure to play in this arena.” His coach Alfred Gislasson added: “I’m so proud. It was our best game in the last months, maybe we lost the rhythm during some minutes in the second half, but finally we play good. Despite this defeat, Barcelona is still one of my favourites to go to the Final4.” Barca coach Xavi Pascual was disappointed: “It was a great handball game with a very offensive first halftime and very strong defences after the break. We were very unlike, in the second half we could decide the match. I’m proud of the fighting spirit and the performance of my team. The result is fair,but maybe we could to get more.”