11.11.2013, 04:30
Holstebro and Trondheim reach Cup Winners' Cup Last 16

ROUND REVIEW: The Danish Women's EHF Cup champions oust Belarusian side Minsk Reg. while Byasen Trondheim put 85 in two matches past Zug to advance to the next round

Holstebro and Trondheim reach Cup Winners' Cup Last 16

The Danish Women's EHF Cup champions, Team Tvis Holstebro, and Norwegian side Byasen Trondheim became the first two teams to advance to the Women's Cup Winners' Cup Last 16 after overall 13 Round 3 matches were played in the competition the past weekend.

Both teams benefitted from the fact that their opponents, BNTU BelAZ Minsk Reg. and LK Zug Handball, forfeited their home right, so that the first and the second leg took place in a double-header format on Saturday and Sunday in Denmark and Norway respectively.

Byasen Trondheim certainly made use of the advantage and scored an impressive overtally of 85 goals in both matches, winning the first leg 41:28 and the second leg 44:18 agains LK Zug Handball.

Holstebro also did not leave any doubts either that they are one of the forces to reckon with in the quest for the Cup Winners' Cup trophy.

They beat Minsk Reg. 31:22 in the first leg and being nine goals behind proved to be too much of a burden for the Belarusian side despite winning the second leg on Sunday 29:26.

The Scandinavian duo is very likely to be joined by former EHF Champions League winners, Viborg HK, in the Last 16 as the Danish team won 31:18 against ZORK Jagodina in Serbia.

The other former EHF Champions League winners, Zvezda Zvenigorod from Russia, won equally confident, beating Mecalia Atletico Guardes from Spain 36:15.

Cercle Dijon Bourgogne proved that they can still keep up with Europe's top clubs despite having been relegated to the French second division at the end of the past season.

Their 22:24 defeat at the hands of HC Odense leaves them all chances to reach the Last 16 with a three-goal win in the second leg on 17 November.

Tertnes Bergen and Italian side Jomi Salerno are the only two teams that have not played so far in this round, as they will decide their fate in a double-header in the Italian city of Salerno on 16 and 17 November.

The second legs of all remaining encounters will take place on either 16 or 17 November. A complete results overview can be found on eurohandball.com.

TEXT: EHF / ts