Veszprem move top with nailbiting win over Wisla Plock

MVM Veszprem have delivered by beating Orlen Wisla Plock in their final group match and move top of the group and could stay there depending on whether PSG defeat Flensburg on Sunday.

If the 2014 VELUX EHF Champions League winners defeat PSG, they finish second below Veszprem and ahead of Paris. If the match ends with a draw Veszprem top the group due to winning the direct encounter against PSG ahead of Paris and Flensburg. Paris will finish on top and skip the last 16 if they win.

In today’s second match, RK Celje bowed out of the Champions League in style, taking their first home win by beating Besiktas by a 14 goal margin.

MVM Veszprém (HUN) vs Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 27:25 (16:13)

Though there was nothing at stake for Plock, who finished sixth in the group, they gave the home side a tough encounter, which was finally decided by a penalty goal seven seconds before the end.

In the first half, Plock were level until the hosts moved ahead 12:11, who then intermediately strengthened their defence and forged ahead to 16:11 after four straight goals including two counter attacks strikes from Gasper Marguc and a great performance from their goalkeeper Mirko Alilovic.

But Plock showed resolve and reduced the gap to three goals at the break and were close to turning the match around at 17:18 after 37 minutes.

The hosts took control again though and seemed to be destined for victory with five minutes left and a 26:22 lead on the scoreboard.

Veszprem were over-confident giving easy balls away to Plock who grabbed their chances. Scoring three to make a draw possible like in the first leg (27:27).

Veszprem coach, Xavier Sabate, took his time-out with a half a minute left. The final home attack came. Nagy fouled and finally top scorer Momir Ilic thrilled the crowd by scoring the a penalty in the dying seconds to win the game 27:25.

Veszprem maintained their unbeaten home record, winning all six matches in the group phase. Like Ilic, Michal Daszek scored seven times for the away team.

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) vs Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu (TUR) 43:29 (21:14)

Four defeats and one draw was Celje’s record in the group phase so far but in the end they shone.

Today’s 72 goals was the third highest match score of this season, together with Veszprem’s 38:34 against Besiktas in February. Until tonight, the 74 goals in the match Vardar vs Kristianstad (38:36) was the overall high score, before Zaporozhye beat La Rioja in the group C/D play-offs by 39:36.

All Celje's court players scored in this one-sided duel, topped by Gal Marguc with eight goals from eight shots.

After 22 minutes, Celje were ahead by eight goals at 16:8, and that distance was maintained by the home side until the middle of the second half.

At 31:21, the difference moved to double-figures for the first time and then Celje easily forged ahead to a 14 goal winning margain.