Hard work for Plock in Sweden

Orlen Wisla Plock can still finish third in Group B of the VELUX EHF Champions League with a home win against SG Flensburg-Handewitt on the last match day of the group phase.

However, the Polish favourites had to struggle to keep that opportunity alive through a 23:22 win away against Alingsas HK.

VELUX EHF Champions League Group B

Alingsas HK (SWE) vs Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 22:23 (8:9)

Alingsas had only honour at stake in this encounter while Wisla Plock were playing for third position, as the two teams met in front of 1,178 spectators in the Estrad of Alingsas early Sunday afternoon.

Still, the Swedish champions made the favourites work hard for their narrow win.

The start was dominated by two strong defences and it took nearly four minutes before the first goal of the match was scored, sent in by Alingsas’ right back Johan Fagerlund.

Wisla Plock had particular problems making their attacking play flow from the beginning, and after eight minutes and 40 seconds coach Manuel Cadenas found it necessary to call his first time-out with his team down 3:1.

And still the visitors had their trouble with the Alingsas defence and goalkeeper Mikael Aggefors in particular. It was not until the 25th minute before the earned their first lead at 7:6.

At half-time this lead was still at one goal.

In the second half, Alingsas continued to put Plock under pressure and not even a three-goal lead in the middle of the half was enough for the visitors to take the match.

The match continued in this fashion right up to the last minute as the Polish side edged a win.