Review of the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup
The first leg of the quarter-finals in the Men´s Challenge Cup saw only visiting teams cheering on their victories as Handball Esch from Luxembourg, CSU Suceava from Romania and IL Runar will start the second leg with a promising lead. But nothing has been decided yet as the biggest gap is still only three goals.
The both legs of the fourth pairing SKA Minsk (BLR) vs Radnički Kragujevac (SRB) will take place only during the next weekend in the Belarusian capital.
Initia Hasselt (BEL) vs Handball Esch (LUX) 26:28 (13:14)
For both opponents this is their first ever quarter-finals in the European Cups. After the first duel it seems the debutants from Luxembourg will prevail over their Belgium´s rivals. Martin Muller led Esch with 12 goals, the Dutch right wing Bart Köhlen answered with ten for the home team.
Drammen HK (NOR) vs IL Runar (NOR) 28:29 (15:16)
All derbies have a reputation of unpredictable outcomes and it was not different in the clash of two neighbours of the Norwegian standings. Although Drammen won their both encounters in the domestic competition, the 1996 winners of the Challenge Cup failed to live up to the expectations as they lost the thrilling match.
BB Ankara Spor (TUR) vs CSU Suceava (ROU) 33:36 (17:18)
Gökhan Örnek´s nine goals were not enough for the Turkish hosts to avoid the first defeat in their campaign as Suceava snapped their four match winning streak.
TEXT: EHF / br
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