28.05.2012, 08:00
A.C. Diomidis Argous win EHF Men's Challenge Cup

Three-goal lead from first leg is just enough to defeat Swiss side Wacker Thun.

A.C. Diomidis Argous win EHF Men's Challenge Cup

Greek side A.C. Diomidis Argous have won the EHF Men's Challenge Cup 46:45 on aggregate.

Their three-goal lead from the first leg in Greece (26:23) on Sunday 20 May was enough as they lost 22:20 to Wacker Thun at the Sporthalle Lachen in Thun, Switzerland today (Monday 28 May).

The night of Thun was a historic one for Greek handball: For the first time ever a club from Greece have won an EHF European Cup competition – and the players celebrated with their fans outside the hall in an absolute peaceful manner together with the mayor of Argous  and next to the disappointed Swiss spectators.

After the 26:23 on home ground Diomidis Argous showed a brilliant, but unorthodox way of defending against the host. Wacker Thun could not cope in attack, missed in total 24 shots. The two key figures for the Diomidis triumph were goalkeeper Christoforos Nungovitch, who saved 17 shots including the decisive last one, and Charalampos Mallios, who scored nine goals.

Attended by 2000 spectators Thun was confident to turn the result from the first match, but the Swiss Cup winner was not able to outdistance Argous. In contrast, the Greek team was in lead 16:14 and 19:18 in the second half. But in the final minute – and after Theodoros Megaloikonomu  had received a red card after three suspensions – Thun had opened the gate widely to their second EHF Challenge Cup victory after 2005: At the score of 22:20 Wacker missed three shots, two saved by Nungovitch, one hitting the goal bar. With goal number 23 the host would haven been the aggregate winner.  Best Wacker scorer was Linder with seven goals.

Watch the FULL MATCH HERE.
 
For all the statistics click HERE.

Photo: ekathimerini.com

TEXT: EHF