Veszprem first team to Cologne party

MKB-MVM Veszprém are the first team to officially book their place in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 as the Hungarian champions beat PSG Handball 31:26 in a game that was tense and even for 30 minutes but then turned into a festival for the home side.

VELUX EHF Champions League Quarter-final, second leg:
MKB-MVM Veszprém vs PSG Handball 31:26 (12:12)
First leg: 28:26, Veszprém won 59:52 on aggregate score.

Although the home side took the lead in the first minutes it was obvious from the start that PSG are in a much better shape than a week ago. The French team put their defence together and in spite of lack of saves from their goalkeepers they never let Veszprém too far ahead.

The home team maintained focus on defence and had some problems in attack. Coach Carlos Ortega started rotating early on but the PSG wall stood solid and it was an even game.

Both teams made some technical errors and to the home crowd’s shock Paris took the lead int he 27th minute. The visitors even had a ball for an aggregate draw but Veszprém equalised and it was 12:12 at the interval.

The second half brought answers to all important questions in a short time. Veszprém got off to a flying start and before the Parisiens knew it the game was done. The Hungarian outfit concentrated better in attack and Mirko Alilovic saved some crucial shots behind the the Veszprém wall which became more and more reliable as the minutes passed.

Momir Ilic scored freely and both Veszprém’s line players had plenty of space to exploit while Mikkel Hansen was left alone in the woods.  Not more than 10 minutes passed from the second half when the match of the week turned into a feast for the home fans. Veszprém even had an eight goal lead when 10 minutes from the end everybody on the court came to terms with the fact that Veszprém will travel to Cologne.

PSG coach Philippe Garden said his team had clear ideas about how to beat Veszprém but the beginning of the second half decided everything.

"I have to admit that the better team went through. Veszprém defended very well and since we had no chance to score from fast breaks we knew we were doomed.”

Daniel Narcisse agreed with his coach and added that "the blackout in the beginning of the second half killed us because Veszprém went ahead by 3-4 goals and we couldn’t keep pace.”

Carlos Ortega got really emotional after the final whistle. "It was a tense battle against an excellent team, and I would like to congratulate PSG for making it really hard for us. I think we have never defended as well as we did today and I would especially like to mention Timuzsin Schuch, who is not a favourite of newspapers but was outstanding today.”