06.10.2008, 01:53
Zagreb and Löwen share points

Löwen can be more satisfied after the Group H derby: the German team got away with a 33:33 draw and a point.

Zagreb and Löwen share points

5 500 spectators in Zagreb's “Ledena dvorana” saw an exciting match of two strong teams. The Croatians had many times an advantage of three goals, but Löwen showed great fighting spirit. The match between two fierce rivals ended 33:33 (16:14).

Despite injury problems, Ivano Balic was in the starting line-up of Zagreb. The new players of the home team proved their quality from the very beginning of the game. The Croatians took a 2:0 advantage and the first six goals of Zagreb were scored by new boys: Skof saved, Balic scored, Strlek scored, Valcic scored, Strlek scored, Valcic scored and Balic scored for 6:5.

Löwen did not allow the home team take a significant lead. The German team soon equalised at 7:7 and also at 8:8 and 11:11.

In the 23rd minute Duvnjak and Vori received 2 minute suspensions and Löwen took the lead for the first time in the match at 11:12. As the suspended players returned, the Croatian team took the lead again and finished the first half with 16:14.

At the beginning of the second half Lazarov scored to make it 17:14 – greatest difference of the game. However, the Germans quickly responded and took the lead at 18:19 again. After a 7-meter saved by Szmal, Filip scored and it was 20:22.

Excellent Skof

Thanks to the great saves of Gorazd Skof, Zagreb turned the result again. Ivano Balic in the 43rd minute scored from a counterattack (25:23). Then Schwenke took time-out, which proved to be the right thing to do.

The Germans equalised again and the match arrived to a thrilling finish. In the last minute the score was 33:33. Zagreb had 30 seconds to score, but did not succeed.

Lazarov best scorer

The top scorer was Lazarov with 11 goals. Balic scored 6, while Skof saved 13 shots.

Coach Wolfgang Schwenke can be satisfied with the performance of Sigurdsson (8 goals) and Harbok (7 goals).

Cervar disappointed

Coach Lino Cervar was disappointed by his team’s performance: “We did not deserve to win today. Our defence was not good. We scored many goals, but we also received far too many. At home we should have played much more aggressively and we should have been more solid.”

TEXT: Ivan Ambros