Slavia Praha in next round after thriller

DHC Slavia Praha are in the Women’s EHF Cup Qualification Round 2 after a thriller on Sunday evening.

The Czech team was chasing a four-goal deficit against Swedish Skuru IK after a 26:22 away defeat last weekend.

However, in front of 450 spectators in a full DHC Sport Hall in Prague, Slavia managed to turn the tables and win 23:18 after being up 11:8 at half-time.

This was exactly enough for the hosts to proceed to the next round, where their opponents will be three-time Champions League winners Viborg HK from Denmark.

The Czech Republic’s other representative in the first qualification round, DHK Banik Most are also in Round 2.

Most were receiving BNTU-BelAZ Minsk Reg. in a double header this weekend, and even though the Belarusian visitors won the second match Sunday 32:30 Sunday evening, Most still made it to the next round, having won 28:23 on Saturday.

In the next round, Most will be up against no other than German TuS Metzingen who reached the final of the EHF Cup last season.

The weekend was also good for French handball.

After Nantes Loire Atlantique HB qualified for the next round last weekend, two other French teams followed them this weekend.

Issy Paris Hand did not feel bothered by playing both matches against LC Brühl Handball on away court.

Issy won both games in Switzerland clearly, 29:20 on Saturday and 30:23 on Sunday and are now ready to meet Hungarian ÉRD HC in the next round.

Brest Bretagne Handball had a 30:16 win with them going to Portugal for their return match against Madeira Andebol SAD, and the French side won almost as big away as they had done at home.

31:18 was the score this time around, and the European debutants will now take on Russian Dinamo-Sinara.

Norway also were dealt a full house this weekend after Vipers Kristiansand made to the second round a week ago.

Tertnes Bergen eliminated H.C. Holon from Israel 32:21 and 42:16 in this weekend’s double header at home, while Byasen Trondheim defeated Slovenian champions RK Zagorje 32:20 and 25:20 in another double header.

At least one Norwegian team will have to leave the tournament after the next round, though, as Tertnes and Byasen are meeting in a Norwegian derby in that round.

The closest double header this weekend was carried out in Lviv, Ukraine.

The Ukrainian hosts Galytchanka won the first leg against Pogon Baltica Szczecin 24:22 Saturday afternoon.

However, it is still the Polish team who will be facing Danish Nykøbing Falster HK in the next round, as Szczecin won the return match on Sunday afternoon 24:20.