Two thrillers end in draws

One match in which the biggest gap were four goals, one match which was like a rollercoaster ride – but the encounters Hamburg vs. Medvedi and Minsk vs. Zagreb in Round 2 of the VELUX EHF Champions League had something similar, the final result of 27:27.

Group A:

HSV Hamburg (GER) – Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) 27:27 (15:12)

Both teams had the chance to win this thrilling encounter, both teams missed their chances in the dying minute of a top class match – and both teams remained unbeaten after two matches with now three points each on their account.

In the end the match was a private duel of Hans Lindberg (HSV) and Dmitry Kovalev (Medvedi) for the top scorer crown – and this encounter had no winner either with 10 goals for each.

As HSV dominated the game from minute 16 to the break, the Russian champions were dominant in the starting period and in the second half. Medvedi were backed by a strong defence in the beginning and surprisingly led 8:5 in minute 14. But then the Germans had found their rhythm, they equalized, took their first lead at 10:9 and then forged ahead to 15:11 in minute 30.

But Medvedi improved again – and the 17:16 six minutes after the break was the last Hamburg lead until the end. Mostly the distance was only one goal, but HSV could not manage to turn the match. 100 seconds before the end Vasily Filippov scored for 27:26 for the guests, before Marcin Lijewski equalized again.

The final minute was imprinted by hectic, mistakes and nervousness on both sides. First Medvedi caused a technical mistake, then Lijewski failed with his shot against Chekhovskie goalkeeper Oleg Grams. With their last attack Medvedi failed against HSV goalkeeper Dan Beutler.

“It was a really tough match,” HSV coach martin Schwalb said: “I had hoped that we could keep our pace after the break. In case we would have restarted better, a victory would have been possible. But I have to praise my players for their performances after all those matches, travelling and injuries in the past days and weeks.”

“This match was entertaining and thrilling for the spectators, for us coaches it was not that perfect” was the opinion of Medvedi coach Vladimir Maximov and added: “The lead changed constantly, both teams did not want to lose, so both can live with the draw.”

Group D:

Dinamo Minsk (BLR) - RK Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO) 27:27 (14:11)

After losing closely at Berlin in their first match, Belarusian champions Minsk took their first point in this season – but gave a victory from their hands after a brilliant first half. On the other hand Zagreb remain unbeaten after winning their opener against Szeged – and they were in lead by four goals and later in the final minute by 27:26, before Minsk top scorer Pawel Atman stroke for the equalizer.

The whole match was like a roller coaster ride. Zagreb went away to 11:8, before Minsk scored six straight goals for the halftime lead of 14:11 and even forged ahead to 17:11 in minute 35. But by changing the defence strategy, Zagreb coach Slavko Goluža forced his team back on track. By a 10:3 series the Croatian team took the lead again at 21:20 and even extended the margin to four goals. But the saves of goalkeeper Vadim Bogdanov and the final Atman goal secured the draw.