Lublin to semi-final, Lokomotiva close

As the first team, MKS Perla Lublin are ready for the semi-final of the Women's Challenge Cup, while reigning champions HC Lokomotvia Zagreb and Swedish Kristianstad Handball Klubb are close to qualifying too. That is the situation after the quarter-final matches last weekend.

MKS Perla Lublin have the honour of being the first team to enter the semi-finals of the Women's Challenge Cup this season. That is the fact after the Polish team won last weekend's double-header in Spain against Rincon Fertilidad Malaga.

The first leg on Friday night became just as exciting as it was low-scoring. After 11:11 at half-time, Malaga could book a narrow 19:18 win in the Ciudad deportiva Carranque.

The tension was therefore obvious before the second leg Sunday in the same venue.

The first half of the match on Sunday morning was just as equal as the first leg had been, Malaga leading narrowly 10:9 at half-time.

The last 30 minutes belonged completely to the Polish visitors, however.

By winning the second half with eight goals, Lublin won 27:20 and left no doubt that they were the ones to book the ticket for the semi-final.

Lublin's opponents in the semi-final may very well be Kristianstad Handball Klubb who are very close to the semi-final after their 26:23 win in Turkey against Ardesen GSK Saturday afternoon.

Ardesen were leading 14:12 at half-time, but in the last 30 minutes, the European debutants from Southern Sweden reversed the tide and win by three. In fact, it was a Turkish player who formed the largest problem for Ardesen. Left back Asli Iskit scored 10 goals for Kristianstad.

Reigning Challenge Cup winners HC Lokomotiva Zagreb are close to taking the next step in defending their title.

Sunday, the Croatian team won the first leg as clearly as 26:17 at home against Dutch Virto/Quintus.

Lokomotiva soon established a six-goal lead, and after also being six goals up at half-time, 13:7, the home team increased their lead to 10 goals at 24:14 and 25:15, and the nine-goal lead they take with them to the Netherlands also appears reassuring.

The last quarter-final tie is a double-header next weekend between 2016 winners Rocasa Gran Canaria and Turkish Zagnosspor.