Disastrous start ends all KIF hopes

After two defeats MOL Pick Szeged returned to winning ways by taking the advantage of KIF Kolding Kobenhavn’s weak start.

The Hungarian runners-ups kept the lead until the end. KIF are now still on zero points after four matches.

GROUP B:

KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN) vs MOL Pick Szeged (HUN) 22:27 (9:16)

A terrible start in the first minutes shattered all hopes of KIF taking their first points: Coach Henrik Kronholm took his first time-out after only eleven minutes, when his team was down by 1:6, but nothing changed until the break.

Pick played brilliantly in attack and did not have that much work in defence, as KIF gave too many balls away or missed clear chances in the initial stages.

And even Kronholm’s intervention did not wake up his players: When Ferenc Ilyes netted for 12:4 in minute 22, its was clear this was going to be another tough lesson for the disappointing KIF team.

Szeged kept a seven-goal advantage until the break, though KIF improved their efficiency in attack a little.
But in the dressing room, KIF’s coaching staff found the right words as the Danish champions returned on court much more determined and willing to turn the match.

And it took only ten minutes, until they had forced Szeged’s coach Juan Carlos Pastor to take a time-out, when the gap had narrowed to only 20:15.
But KIF were on fire now, trying hard to turn the match round, but the closest it got was at 19:23.

And when Zsolt Balogh netted making it 27:21, Szeged secured two important away points.