Norwegians and Belarusians almost through
After a 21 goal win at home, Drammens HK are practically through to the quarter-finals of the Men´s Challenge Cup, and the same more or less applies to their Norwegian fellow country-men Runar as well as to SKA Minsk after the first leg of the round of 16.
Drammens HK vs. HC Izvidac 41:20 (20:13)
Drammen coach Geir Oustorp admitted not to know much about Izvidac ahead of the first leg. Even so the Norwegians practically made it all clear in Drammenshallen and reduced the second leg in Bosnia Saturday to a formality.
B. B. Ankara Spor vs. A: C. Doukas 29:23 (14:12)
After a fairly narrow 14:12 lead at half time, Ankara secured them selves a promising six goal upholster before going to Greece for the second leg on Sunday.
Handball Esch vs. RK Spartak Vojput 34:26 (17:15)
We may very well see a team from Luxembourg among the last eight, although an eight goal lead may still be hard to defend in Serbia. Winning the second half with six allows Esch to dream realistcially, though.
Initia Hasselt vs. KS Azoty-Pulawy 21:21 (8:11)
Azoty-Pulawy lost a three goal lead during the last quarter of an hour after having been leading 18:15, but the Poles will probably still be content with the draw which gives them extremely good chances to proceed in the second half at home on Saturday.
IL Runar vs. A. C. PAOK 36:26 (16:12)
Ten goals from left winger Stian Nøstdahl contributed to Runar being able to feel pretty sure to follow their Norwegian league colleagues from Drammen to the quarter-finals. A ten goal lead is very likely to be enough before the return match in Thessaloniki.
C. S. U. Suceava vs. SPE Strovolos 35:34 (12:15)
Being only one down, Strovolos obviously have very good chances, when Suceava come to Cyprus Saturday – and Strovolos could even have done better in the first leg in Romania, as they were leading by three at half time. With 11 goals, Strovolos´ Serbian left winger Milos Pesic contributed a lot to the fine perspective.
SKA Minsk vs. Pallamano Pressano 39:25 (20:11)
Pressano will need about a handfull of miracles on Sunday, if the Italians are to reach the quarter-finals. Being 14 up, Minsk are can almost congratulate them selves to being among the last eight. With ten and nine goals, Barys Pukhouski and Siarhei Shylovich contributed with almost half of the Belarusian goals.
TEXT: Peter Bruun / br
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