Cuenca take first group phase win

Liberbank Cuenca claimed their first points of the Men’s EHF Cup 2018/19 Group Phase when they hosted TTH Holstebro on Sunday afternoon. 

• With Cuenca’s victory, both teams are now on two points

• Magnus Bramming scores 11 goals for TTH Holstebro

• Holstebro were missing Dutch international Kay Smits

GROUP C
Liberbank Cuenca (ESP) vs TTH Holstebro (DEN) 26:24 (12:12)

11 goals from left wing Magnus Bramming were not enough to secure TTH Holstebro their second win in succession. Instead, a brilliant second half earned European cup debutants Cuenca their first win in the group phase. 

Cuenca were the better team during the low-scoring start to the match, in which it took Holstebro, who were missing Dutch international Kay Smits, more than six minutes to score their first goal.

A stellar performance from Leonel Marciel in the Cuenca goal contributed to the home team’s lead of 5:2 after 12 minutes. However, Holstebro caught up, 5:5, and with six minutes and 10 seconds left of the first half, Viktor Östlund gave the visitors their first lead at 9:8.

Holstebro also pulled two goals in front, but the home team managed to answer back before half-time, and from the start of the last 30 minutes, the Spanish side were the better team.

As Marciel continued his fine performance in goal, Cuenca created a three-goal lead again at 17:14 and stayed ahead for the rest of the match, although the visitors reduced the distance to one a few times. In the last minutes, Cuenca were even leading by four, before Holstebro reduced the deficit ahead of the buzzer.