Away goals send Dalfsen to Last 16

The biggest drama in the second leg of the Cup Winners' Cup took place in Polish Gdynia, where Dutch champions SERCOCAK Dalfsen were under pressure against the local heroines from Vistal.

Vistal Gdynia had won the first leg in the Netherlands 21:20, but in front of 1100 spectators in Gdynia, Dalfsen managed to win 27:26, which meant that the Dutch club proceed to the Last 16.

A little more than two months ago, Team Esbjerg failed to qualify for the Women's EHF Champions League, as they lost the final of their qualification group clearly against HCM Baia Mare from Romania.

On Sunday, another clear defeat sent Esbjerg out of the Cup Winners' Cup as well.

The runners-up from the Danish championship last season were carrying a four-goal lead with them to the second leg against Ardesen GSK.

However, this lead turned out to be far from enough against the Turkish side who were leading 15:8 already at half-time, and who ended up winning 31:22, which was more than sufficient to qualify for the Last 16.

“Even though Ardesen played fine handball, we should be a better team than them. However, we are not when we manage to miss more than 20 obvious scoring opportunities over two matches,” Esbjerg coach Lars Frederiksen told his club's website.

Former Champions League winners Zvezda Zvenigorod still have the chance for a triumph in the Cup Winners' Cup, in which they reached the final in the 2013/14 season.

The Russian side were taking a four-goal lead with them to Spain for the second leg against Mecalia Atletico Guardes, having won 29:25 at home.

That lead turned out to be more than sufficient for Zvezda who qualified for the next round through a 22:22 draw in Pontevedra.

Another former Champions League winner who is ready for the next round, is Viborg HK.

The Danish club, who won the Champions League three times in the past, did not have much trouble catching up with Metz Handball's 26:24 lead from the first match in France, and through a 28:21 win in Viborg Stadionhal, Viborg qualified for the Last 16 in convincing style.

Issy Paris Hand, who were in the final of this tournament three years ago, are also ready for the Last 16 of this season's edition.

Having won 28:26 in Germany against Buxtehuder SV last weekend, the team from the French capital added just one goal to that result in the return match, as 1,400 spectators saw them win 28:25.

The twelve qualified teams will join the quartet of bottom teams from the Women's EHF Champions League Group Matches - RK Krim Mercator (SLO), HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO), Hypo Niederösterreich (AUT) and  MKS Selgros Lublin (POL).

Pots for Last 16 draw announced

The Last 16 draw will take place on Tuesday 24 November at 14:00 hrs at the EHF Office in Vienna.

The live ticker on www.eurohandball.com will be available and also live tweeting on @ehf.

The teams are divided in two pots:

POT 1 (8 Teams)    
    
AUT    Hypo Niederösterreich
CRO    HC Podravka Vegeta
NED    SERCODAK Dalfsen
NOR    Glassverket
POL    MKS Selgros Lublin
SLO    RK Krim Mercator
TUR    Ankara Yenimahalle BSK
TUR    Ardesen GSK
    
POT 2 (8 Teams)    
    
DEN    Team Tvis Holstebro
DEN    Viborg HK A/S
FRA    Issy Paris Hand
HUN    Érd HC
NOR    Vipers Kristiansand
ROU    SC Municipal Craiova
RUS    Handball Club Lada
RUS    Zvezda Zvenigorod