Super Saturday for handball in Kristianstad

What a weekend it was for handball in Kristianstad

The men’s team from IFK got their first win in the VELUX EHF Champions League this season, as Telekom Veszprém HC were defeated 32:29 in the Kristianstad Arena.

And in Croatia, the women from the southern Swedish town progressed to the Last 16 of the Challenge Cup.

Kristianstad Handboll, who celebrated their European debut last season by reaching the quarter-final of the competition, won the double-header in the third round against ZRK Bjelovar 49:45 on aggregate.

1,300 spectators in Bjelovar saw the home team win the first match Friday night 23:22.
However, in the return match on Saturday, the Swedish visitors managed to decide things in their favour as the support from 1,500 spectators was not enough to help the home side.

Kristianstad were already 14:8 up at half-time and held on to win by five, booking their ticket to the next round.

Another double-header was just as close.

On home court in Kwintheul, Netherlands, H. V. Quintus hosted Valur from Iceland, and after a 24:20 win on Saturday, the home team was able to finish the job the next day with a 21:20 win.

With a total of 14 goals over the two days, Daisy Hage played a starring role in Quintus’ Last 16 berth.

Belarusian side HC Gomel, who were in the Women’s EHF Champions League Qualification last season, are close to the next round after their visit to Lithuania this weekend.

In the Alythaus Arena, Gomel won 35:31 against ACME-Zalgiris-2 from Kaunas.

Nine goals from line player Audinga Kniubaite were not enough for the Lithuanian team, who face a big task in Belarus next Saturday.

Spain’s Rincon Fertilidad Malaga, who reached the quarter-final of the competition last season, may very well by on their way to emulating that achievement.

So far, the Spanish team have taken a rather big step towards the Last 16 through their 28:28 draw away to DHB Rotweiss Thun SPL 1.

A player from each side scored 10 goals in Sporthalle Gotthelf in Thun – Slovakian left back Lucia Weibelova for Thun and Spanish centre back Emma Coronado for the visitors.

The first Maltese team ever to enter a women´s European Cup competition started their maiden season with a loss.

La Salle HS, who were playing at home in the first leg of their tie against Macedonian club ZRK Pelister 2012.

With a 30:24 win for the visitors, they appear to be heading for the Last 16 as long as they avoid disaster in the return match at home on 18 December.