25.09.2016, 06:55
Holstebro and Dinamo share spoils after thriller

GROUP D REVIEW: Holstebro earned an important point on their VELUX EHF Champions League debut thanks to a last-second equaliser against Dinamo Bucuresti

Holstebro and Dinamo share spoils after thriller

Dinamo Bucuresti looked like the winners but a seven-meter throw saw TTH Holstebro earn an important point (32:32) in the Danish team's maiden VELUX EHF Champions League game.

• There were 13 lead changes in one of the most entertaining games of the first match day.

• It was a game of stellar attacks as Holstebro boasted a 67% shot efficency and Dinamo a 64%.

• Dinamo never had a draw before in the European top competition.

• Kasper Kildelund was the Danish top scorer with 9 goals, while Dan Savenco scored 6 for Dinamo.

GROUP D:
TTH Holstebro (DEN) vs Dinamo București (ROU) 32:32 (16:16)

While Holstebro enjoyed their maiden game in the VELUX EHF Champions League, Dinamo's experience was only slightly broader. The Romanian team had one win 10 years ago, in their only season in the competition.

"I'm happy to get one point but I am disappointed by the number of mistakes we made," Holsterbro coach Patrick Westerholm said. "There is a big difference between getting one point or zero points."

Lack of experience aside, the two teams produced an enjoyable game with seven lead changes in the first half.

While Dinamo started better, leading 8:5 after 13 minutes, a four-minute flawless game from the hosts saw the Danish side take the lead (9:8).

Dinamo bounced back, inspired by sharpshooter Ciprian Șandru, who scored five of Dinamo's 16 goals in the first half.

Iranian brothers power Dinamo in the second half

An evenly matched first half ended in 16:16 after several bursts of form for both teams, failing to keep their focus for more than five minutes.

With the hosts pressing right from the start, it was Dinamo who started better. More focused in both defense and attack and with the Iranian Esteki brothers in fine form, Dinamo jumped to a 21:18 lead with 20 minutes to go.

Danish team ties it at the buzzer

It may have looked like the Romanian champions were headed for a winning start to the season, but a 4:0 run between the 44th and the 47th minute seemed to turn the game around.

However, Dinamo took back the initiative and Alin Florin Sania gave them a 32:31 lead with just eight seconds left on the clock.

It still was not over as Jac Karlsson converted a penalty on the last throw of the match.

"I think that we should have won the match as we knew what Dinamo Bucuresti was bringing," Karlsson said. "I'm happy about the one point and think we still have a good chance in the group."

TEXT: Adrian Costeiu / ew