Sporting and Valur heading for semi-finals

Sporting CP are very close to the Men’s Challenge Cup Semi-finals to say the least, even before the second part of their double header at home against A. C. Doukas.

In the first leg on Saturday, Sporting left no doubt as they took a 35:23 win, which makes Sunday’s second leg match look like a formality.

The Portuguese hosts were leading from the start, and the distance already stood at double digits at half-time – 21:10 in favour of Sporting. The home team did not relax much in the last 30 minutes, but continued to storm home to a 12-goal win.

While Sporting are likely to decide everything as early as Sunday, Valur must wait until next Saturday to know their fate.

However, after their 30:27 win away against HC Sloga Pozega on Saturday evening, the Icelandic team are in an extremely favourable position to proceed to the next stage.

2,000 spectators in Pozega saw the Serbian home team leading 15:14 at half-time, but the hosts had no solutions against Valur’s Croatian left back Josip Juric Grgic. With no less than 14 goals, 21-year-old Juric played a crucial part in the visitors turning the game after the break.

Things are more open between JMS Hurry-Up and HKM Sala. The Dutch side take a four-goal lead with them to Slovakia next Saturday after winning 28:24 at home on Saturday.

The score was even at 12:12 at half-time, but in the second period, the 1,400 spectators in Emmen were happy to see the home team improve their chances ahead of the return match considerably.