 Chambéry finally get points on the board
Chambéry had a successful end to a tough week on Sunday in the VELUX EHF Champions League.
After seven consecutive losses, Chambéry finally gained their first points of the season against the Danish team of Bjerringbro-Silkeborg, winning 29:26.
After winning with a three goal margin, the French club even maintained some hope of qualifying for the Last 16, if they win their last two matches and Silkeborg lose theirs.
The run up to the game did not go well for the French team, as Alix Kevynn Nyokas, Bertrand Gille, and top scorer Edin Basic were all out of action due to injuries sustained in their French league game against Nantes just three days previous.
But it did not bother them, as they came out flying and were quickly creating a gap on the scoreboard.
Thimothey Nguessan was particularly efficient, scoring six goals and playing almost the entire game.
At 14-12 at halftime, there were fears that Chambéry might let their lead slip, as they have been doing since the beginning of the season in the competition.
However, Chambéry managed to increase the margin, stretching their lead to seven goals with fifteen minutes to play.
Thanks to an excellent Jannick Green in goal and the six goals from winger Casper Mortensen, Bjerringbro came back right on the heels of Chambéry.
A last-minute 7-meter throw was even given, but Cyril Dumoulin made a heroic save, preserving the three goal advantage, and keeping the slim qualification chances intact.
"Let's be honest, even if there is a mathematical possibility that we can qualify, nobody in the squad is too ambitious to think we're going to win in Kielce.
“But it was nice to give our fans a victory at last, they've been pushing us for so long, they deserved to see us win.
“It's great for the confidence as well, since we've shown ourselves that we can win even without some key players, such as Edin Basic," Cyril Dumoulin told Beinsport.
"We knew this game would be a huge fight, and we prepared accordingly. We could have done better in the last quarter, with the seven goal lead, and we could have saved ourselves some fear.
“I think we deserved a larger victory than this. This kind of scenario, with a last second save on a penalty shot, is very good mentally for the squad.
“It will push us back in the right direction after the draw in the French league, and the injuries that came with it." Mario Cavalli, Chambéry's head coach, was quoted on the club's website.
TEXT: Kevin Domas / cor
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