02.12.2013, 08:01
Last 16 almost complete

ROUND REVIEW: 15 participants of the next stage have been confirmed, one more will follow on 15 December. The draw of the Last 16 will be streamed live on ehfTV.com.

Last 16 almost complete

As ZTR Zaporozhye from Ukraine and Olimpus-85 USEFS from Moldova are waiting until the middle weekend of December to decide their internal tie, the Last 16 of the Men's Challenge Cup is only almost complete, after nine further teams qualified this weekend.

1,600 spectators watched the second leg of the all Serbian clash between RK Metaloplastika Sabac and HC Vrbas. Vrbas had won 26:25 at home, but led on by eight goals from left back Milos Dragas, Metaloplastika managed to win as clearly as 31:22 on their home ground and proceed to the next round without any real problems.

Poland will have double representation among the last 16, as Handball Zabrze managed to succeed their 37:30 home wint against Initia Hasselt with an almost as convincing 27:21 victory in Belgium, while KS Azoty-Pulawy let their 35:20 away win over Turkish Özel Idare SK be followed by a somewhat smaller 27:23 home win.

This does not mean that Turkish handball is out of the tournament, though, as Nilüfer BK went on despite a 33:31 away to Dutch JMS Hurry-Up. The Turkish side had won 32:27 at home and are still in the competition.

Cyprus will also be represented in the round of the Last 16, as SPE Strovolos's 23:21 away defeat to KV Sasja HC meant nothing after their 31:21 home win against the Belgian team.

In spite of having had two teams sent out of Round 3, Belgium will still have a team among the last 16, as United HC Tongeren qualified despite a 31:28 defeat in Luxembourg to HB Dudelange. Tongeren had won 31:24 at home and could live with the three goal defeat.

Finland is also going to have a team among the last 16, as Riihimäki Cocks won the double header at home against Pallamano Pressano from Italy 57:45 after two six goal wins - 30:24 Saturday and 27:21 Sunday.

Great Britain is out of the tournament, as Ruislip Eagles were the last of three British teams to leave the competition. This weekend's two matches in Bulgaria were lost 24:22 and 26:20 to Spartak.

Finally did HC Victory Minsk secure Belarusian representation in the next round, as they added a 27:26 away win against AC PAOK to their 28:21 home victory over the Greeks last weekend.

Further information

Find the complete review of the Round 3 matches here

Live coverage of draw

The draw of the Last 16 will take place on Thursday, 5 December at 11:00 hrs local time at the Gartenhotel Altmannsdorf 2 in Vienna.

All handball fans can follow the draw event live on various channels. There will be a live streaming from the draw venue on www.ehfTV.com.

The up-to-the-second coverage of both draws will be also available via liveticker on www.eurohandball.com and on @ehfmedia Twitter channel.

TEXT: Peter Bruun / br