Tatabanya first team through to EHF Cup Group Phase

Grundfos Tatabanya KC confirmed their EHF Cup Group Phase berth with a 28:26 win away against Maccabi Srugo Rishon Lezion on Friday afternoon, which they all but secured in the first-leg match.

Having won the first leg 35:23 at home, Tatabanya were already very close to the group phase before the visit to Israel on Friday, and their overall victory was never in danger in Beit Maccabi Sport Centre, Rishon Lezion.

Tatabanya were already leading by two goals, 14:12, at half-time, and the Hungarian visitors managed to stay ahead with the same distance at the final buzzer.

Seven goals from Bosnian international Ivan Karacic and six from Croatian Robert Markotic did not help the home team against a Hungarian side that finished with no less than 11 players on the score sheet. Balazs Szöllösi and Szabolcs Szöllösi were the most successful shooters for Tatabanya with four goals each.

The result means that Tatabanya are finally in the group phase for the first time ever, after the third qualification round signalled the end of their campaign in the two previous seasons.

Tatabanya are the first team to reach the 2016/17 group phase, and 15 more teams will follow over the weekend.

Hungary have a chance to have two teams in the group phase, but for this to happen, Csurgói KK will have to level a 21:27 deficit against Helvetia Anaitasuna when hosting the Spanish team on Saturday afternoon.