03.10.2010, 08:40
Four teams to beat

Close results and a total of four draws in the second round of the VELUX EHF Men's Champions League show the equality of the 24 teams. Only four teams have maximum points.

Still four white vests

Group A :

Rhein Neckar Löwen are leading Group A after two away victories as the only team with four points. Kiel and Barcelona tied in the ehfTV.com Match of the Week - and THW goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer secured the points for the Germans. After losing in Chambery very closely Kielce remains as the only team in this Group without points.

Chambery Savoie – Vive Targi Kielce 27:26 (16:12)

They danced on the field and praised their goalkeeper: Chambery Savoie took their first points in this VELUX EHF Champions League season in a real thriller.

The match was decided even after the final whistle, as Kielce had a free throw with the last signal – but Chambery goalkeeper Nebojsa Grahovac saved the ball.

Chambery were in lead nearly the whole match, but as their power and concentration lacked from the middle of the second half on, the Polish Champion was close to turn the match.

Chambery extended the lead right with the halftime whistle to 16:12 and played very aggressive in defense and efficient in attack. Kielce didn’t find the means to break through the French wall.

As the host went to 20:14 in minute 36 it looked like the pre-decision. But when coach Bogdan Wenta became really angry with his players Kielce improved.In between twelve minutes they were close to equalize at the score of 23:22 – and if Grahovac wouldn’t have saved some important shots Kielce would have taken the lead.

But with the score at 25:24 Chambery secured the victory with two consecutive goals. Even as Kielce put enormous pressure on the French in the hectic final stage with a lot of suspensions the host had their happy-end, as the Polish Champion still wait for their first points.

On home soil both German clubs can extend their account next weekend: Kiel will host Kielce, Löwen meet Chambery. Barcelona will face Celje in Palau Blaugrana.

Group B:

Veszprem (after beating Hamburg) and Kolding (after their second consecutive away victory in Presov) are the top teams in this group with each four points ahead of Montpellier and Hamburg. Presov and Sävehof still wait for their first point in this season after Match Day 2.

Tatran Presov – KIF Kolding 29:31 (13:17)

Second consecutive away victory for KIF Kolding: But it was even tougher work as last week in Sävehof to secure the two points in Slovakia. Kolding started great thanks to their strong defense and counter attacks and led 4:0 and 10:6. The Danes secured this distance until the break, before Presov improved.

In the 42 minute they equalised at the score of 22:22 thanks to their strengthened defense, before again Kolding took the lead and didn’t give it from their hands until the end. The match was decided at the score of 28:24 in minute 56. For Presov it was the second consecutive home defeat, so they hope for their first points in Sweden now. Top scorers of the match were Tomidalsky, Sobol (both Presov) and Christianssen (Kolding) with each six goals.

Statements of the coaches:

Rastislav Trtík (Tatran Presov): “We could have won this game, but we missed too many clear chances. If only 30 percent of them would have reached their destination, the victory would have been ours. Kolding took the profit from our mistakes and took one deserved point from my team.”

Ingemar Linnell (Kolding): “I’m very happy with this victory. It is always good when you manage to win in international away matches. We have gained confidence.”

Next weekend the next clash of two handball giants will be the EHFTV:com Match of the Week: MKB Veszprem vs. Montpellier HB. Aside HSV Handball have their third consecutive away match in this season – but the trip to Kolding is quite close. Sävehof will host Presov in the match of two still pointless teams.

Group C:

As the top match Valladolid – Chekhovski ended with a draw no team has a white vest anymore. To show the equality of this group Aalborg and Schaffhausen shared the points, too.

Aab Handball – Kadetten Schaffhausen 30:30 (15:14)

An incredible catch-up chase made Schaffhausen celebrate an unexpected point in Aalborg. Aab led 30:26 four minutes before the end, but the Swiss Champion showed his fighting spirit. At first Estonian international Mait Patrail scored the 30:27 by a penalty shot, then Schaffhausen scored twice thanks to a tactical mistake of Aalborg: Coach Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen sent an additional field player on the ground, as Schaffhausen was short handed due to a suspension. But by intercepting two passes the guests scored with two shots into the empty goal.

Jan Filip scored the equalizer 19 seconds before the end by a counter attack. Kadetten goalkeeper Björgvin Gustavsson saved the last Aalborg shot and secured the first point in this season for his team – which is equal in points with Aab now. Top scorer of the match was Patrail with nine goals.

Only three days after their match in Aalborg Kadetten Schaffhausen play on home ground against Valladolid and want to take the first points of this season. A Belarussian-Russian duel will be the third consecutive home match of Dinamo Minsk against their neighbours from Checkhovski Medvedi. After losing in Minsk, Szeged count on their strength at home against Aalborg.

Group D:

Ciudad Real is the fourth team with two victories in two matches. The Spaniards lead the ranking ahead of Zagreb (tied in Sarajevo, 3 points), St. Petersburg and Flensburg (each 2 points).

Third home match in a row for St. Petersburg, third away match for Zagreb – these are the ingredients of the opener of this group on Thursday. Aside Sarajevo want to take their first home victory against Flensburg and Ciudad Real’s favourite against Constanta on home ground.

TEXT: Björn Pazen