Csaszar’s last-minute goal prevents Dujshebaev debut from failure

Hungary and their new coach Talant Dujshebaev were very close to a disappointing opener in the Men’s EHF EURO 2016 qualification.

After a 24:27 deficit midway through the second half, it was Gabor Csaszar who saved his team with a late goal that secured Hungary’s 31:30 win against Portugal.

Iceland, Spain and Slovenia – quite contrary to Hungary – enjoyed comfortable victories on this first day of the EHF EURO 2016 Qualification.

Group 3: Slovenia vs. Slovakia 31:25 (15:12)

The counter attacks and penalty goals of Dragan Gajic and the back court shots of Klemen Cehte were the keys to Slovenia’s opening victory in the EHF EURO 2016 Qualification.

With Gajic scoring nine and Cehte six goals overall, they were eventually responsible for almost half of Slovenia’s goals.

It was only the first half which was played almost on eye level, with Slovenia nevertheless leaving the court with a three-goal lead.

But when the game started again, Slovenia improved their performance in defence and used this to build up their lead.

Slovakia tried hard to reduce the gap, but missed too many shots attack, while Slovenia also benefitted from seven successful penalties.

Between the 35th and the 45th minute Slovakia did not score once and when the score stood at 24:17 for Slovenia with 13 minutes left to play, the game was decided in Slovenia’s favour.

Group 4: Iceland vs. Israel 36:19 (14:9)

After they did not qualify for 2015 World Championship, Iceland stroke back in their EURO 2016 qualification opener against Israel by taking the clearest win of all matches on Wednesday.

Following a start on eye level, Iceland’s left wing Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson started his engines – and he eventually added nine goals to his match tally.

But Israel were not only shocked by the Icelandic high speed handball, but also by the disqualification of goalkeeper Eldar Shikloshi right before the break.

At that time Iceland were ahead 13:9, but in the second half they taught Israel a lesson in high-efficiency handball, while Israel seemed to just watch in awe what was happening around them.

Even without their injured playmaker Aron Palmarsson Iceland dominated their opponents at will.

Group 5: Hungary vs. Portugal 31:30 (19:15)

They were stumbling, but they did not fall: Hungary were close to an opening defeat on home court against an unexpectedly strong Portuguese side, and it was only a last-minute goal by Gabor Csaszar that saved them from disappointment.

Talant Dujshebaev had taken over the team only weeks before that first match, but it will arguably take more time until his training techniques and experience might pay off.

When Hungary, who had to play without their injured top star Laszlo Nagy, were ahead 11:7 in the 16th minute probably everybody in the sold-out arena in Miskolc was expecting a Hungarian victory – but everything changed.

Even a 19:15 lead at the break did not give the hosts stability and security – instead the bravely fighting and well defending Portuguese took control of the game.

It took them only eight minutes to level the game at 21:21. 13 minutes before the end, Hungary were literally on the floor when Portugal led 24:27 – but Dushebajev changed players and tactics and they rose again.

Goalkeeper Roland Mikler saved some crucial shots and when when Peter Gulyas equalised at 29:29 five minutes before the end the arena went crazy.

Portugal did not surrender and Silva Solha scored for 30:29 – but Kornel Nagy and Csaszar turned the match around in the last minutes.

This duo and Gulyas were the best Hungarian scorers with five goals each.

Group 7: Spain vs. Austria 27:16 (12:8)

For more than 40 minutes Austria nearly played on a par with the Spanish world champions, who in the end nevertheless prevailed.

The Spanish defence stood like a wall for the entire match, and as they missed their creative mastermind Viktor Szilagyi, Austria lacked the ideas to find the gaps.

Scoring only 16 goals shows the main problem the team of coach Patrekur Johannesson had on Wednesday night.

Even a weak scoring efficiency (4 goals from 12 shots) of centre back Joan Canellas – top scorer of the EHF EURO 2014 – did not stop the ‘Spanish express’, which was led by the counter attacks of Victor Tomas instead.

The left wing finished on top of the scoring list by six goals.

The match was equal until the score of 8:7; then the Spaniards extended the margin goal by goal and at the latest they were virtually confirmed winners, when the score was 19:13 in the 47th minute.

Best Austrian scorer was Robert Weber with three goals.