08.12.2014, 02:00
Szeged have nothing to "crib" about

BLOG: ehfTV commentator Tom O Brannagain could hardly wish a more entertaining farewell match in 2014 than he had in the Group D classic between Szeged and Kielce. The defensive maneuvres of the two Spanish coaches resembled him famous military commandments of Art of War.

Szeged have nothing to "crib" about

What a game! Incredible effort in a scorching hot atmosphere, both literally and figuratively. The traveling band of Kielce supporters made their hundreds of voices heard and added to the, always, vocal Szeged fans.

And somehow this translated to the court. Kielce were quicker to settle and took a nice lead. Their goals from backcourt included a few crackers from Christmas "Karol" Bielecki. In fact their goals were coming much easier than Szeged's and with a halftime lead of three, the Hungarians had nothing to crib about.

Sego had started in immaculate form, but a hapless Sierra couldn't complain when he was replaced by Wyszomirski. This substitution tilted the game in Szeged's favour and although losing at the break, he continued his amazing streak into the second half. Facing a plethora of Poles, time and again, he stood tall and stopped the unstoppable. He was my man of the match and his amazing form looked set to poleaxe his countrymen.

The defences on both sides were amazing. As we spoke last week, they weaved their magic, almost always finding the yin to the attack's yang.

Areas of the court were denied the attacking teams as two masters of defence tactics battled it out in a game that warranted a chapter in Sun Tzu's "Art of War". It wasn't a dirty game by any stretch, just masterful defensive strategies that kept waves of attacking play at bay.

It was wonderful to watch. After a weekend where the art of defending looked to be dead, in the face of ever rising scores, this game ended 27-26.

Artful, artistic and aesthetically pleasing it shows that our wonderful game is not all about the goals.

But there were some of those too. The giant jump shooters of Kielce and the simple, yet complex, relationship of the playmaker with the pivot.

Inspired wing shooting and instinctive shots, everything was on display in a game that should be analysed by all budding coaches for the building of tactical acumen.

As Szeged tired, having stormed into a four-goal lead in the second half, Dujshebaev made an inspired substitution. Szmal came in for Sego and saved just about everything thrown at him. The centre block kept a tighter rein on the pivot and Kielce started to score some counter-attack goals.

Coming into the last minute either team could have won it, but only Kielce did. And it was such a simple goal. Cupic finished it from the right wing. A man who had looked to have left his shooting arm at home didn't like a reaction, earlier, from the keeper, after a save by Wyszomirski.

The Polish goalkeeper of Szeged had kicked the hornets nest and from that point on Cupic could do no wrong. His last-second goal, for the win, showed that you shoul never get his blood boiling. He stayed ice cold in the face of the pressure to score a goal we have all come to expect from him.

CL takes a break for now, but how brilliant has this year been. I just want to thank all the people who work with me in EHF and at the games. To all the clubs for being so supportive, to all the fans for being just the greatest fans in sport in the world.

To all the players, we owe the greatest debt of gratitude. You are the stars and the athletes who make our sport the most spectacular in the world.

But as I head off into the Christmas sunset, our final thoughts go to our last MOTW. The student met the master and the student won. They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Well, Pastor didn't taste success, but maybe he was a trifle unlucky.

Nollag Shona agus athbhliain faoi shéan is faoi mhaise daoibh uilig.
(Happy Cristmas and a happy new year)

TEXT: Tom O Brannagain, ehfTV commentator