13 goals from Kedziora open the gate for Belgium

The first two duels for the remaining three spots of the Men’s EHF EURO 2018 final qualification stage were quite different, but both matches on Wednesday ended with away wins. 

While Belgium took a sensational clear victory in Turkey and are all but through to the next stage with a nine-goal advantage, Israel and Romania played a tense, mostly equal game with another happy ending for the away team. 

Turkey vs Belgium 28:37 (13:16)
Second leg: Saturday 20:00 hrs local time in Angleur-Liege

“Maybe at home we have a chance to win,” Belgium left wing Damian Kedziora said to eurohandball.com prior to the play-offs against Turkey – before he turned out to be the key to an unexpectedly clear away win in the first-leg match. 

The nine-goal victory, during which Kedziora scored 13 goals from 17 attempts, means the gate to the final phase of EHF EURO 2018 Qualification is now open wide for Belgium. 

The Turks, whose squad includes several VELUX EHF Champions League players who wear the Besiktas jersey, were the clear favourites on home ground, but managed to play this role only in the initial stages. The 7:6 lead in minute 14 was the hosts’ last advantage of the match, after which point they were simply overrun by Belgium.

Scoring a 5:0 series to create a 10:7 lead was the base for the away team, who kept the same distance until the break. 

The last sign of life from Turkey was visible when they reduced the gap to 13:14, but Belgium’s defence improved and Kedziora & Co. played brilliant attack, resulting in a 10:3 series within eleven minutes to ultimately decide the match at 24:17. 

Turkey were down by nine goals for the first time at 24:33, while the Belgian motor was still running on full throttle to successfully avenge the two defeats at the hands of their hosts in the 2017 World Championship pre-qualification. 

The top scorer for Turkey was Besiktas left back Ramazan Döne, who netted seven times – but he and his teammates will need a miracle to turn the tide on Saturday in Belgium.

Israel vs Romania 27:30 (15:13)
Second leg: Sunday 18:00 hrs local time in Calarasi

Israel started at maximum efficiency by preventing the famous Romanian counter attacks, causing turnovers and beating the away team with their own weapons. 

After 19 minutes Romania were completely shocked as Israel had forged ahead to a 11:4 lead thanks to a particularly strong period from Chen Pomeranz and top scorer Ram Tutkenitz (six goals in total).

But anyone that expected the home team to maintain their dominance was proved wrong. 12 minutes before the break Valentin Ghionea (best scorer for his side with seven goals) and his teammates had nearly levelled the score at 13:15. 

It took another 20 minutes for Romania to equalise for the first time, with a penalty shot from left wing Dragos Oprea taking the score to 16:16 in the 37th.

From that moment on the match was on the edge with the advantage constantly changing hands. Romania had gained confidence when they pulled ahead for the first time at 18:17, but Israel struck back, turning the tide to lead once more at 22:20.

This goal was the signal for the away team to start their final sprint. A 4:0 series off two double strikes – from Iuliu Csepreghi and Andrei Mihalcea – changed the direction of the rollercoaster ride. 

In the end it was another double strike, this time by Andrei Negru, then a goal from Ionut Ramba for 28:24, that decided the match.

The hosts reduced the gap in the closing minutes but Aihan Ömer’s team are now the clear favourites to book the spot in the EURO 2018 Qualification on home ground on Sunday.