Granollers and Chambery through to quarter-finals
A 28:21 win at home against Chambery Savoie Mont Blanc Handball booked Fraikin BM. Granollers their place in the Men’s EHF Cup Quarter-finals. Despite the defeat, Chambery are also ready for the quarter-final fight, while SKA Minsk lost their last hope with their 35:30 defeat to SC Magdeburg.
• Granollers are in the quarter-finals after an impressive win against Chambery
• Chambery had secured their quarter-final place before Sunday’s match began
• SKA Minsk lose their last quarter-final hope with a defeat in Magdeburg
• Only one quarter-final berth remains available, to be decided on the last match day next weekend
GROUP A
SC Magdeburg (GER) vs SKA Minsk (BLR) 35:30 (17:15)
Magdeburg were already sure to qualify for the EHF Cup Finals, which they host, while Minsk were fighting for their theoretical chance of contesting the quarter-finals.
For great parts of the first half, there seemed to be realistic hope for the visitors. Minsk were leading by one or two goals for most of the 30 minutes, until Magdeburg took the upper hand late in the period.
In the second half, the 4,287 spectators in GETEC Arena - Bördelandhalle saw the home team increase their lead to seven several times, thanks in large part to 10 goals from left wing Lukas Mertens.
While Magdeburg are still on maximum points, Minsk lost their last hope to proceed in the tournament.
GROUP D
Fraikin BM. Granollers (ESP) vs Chambery Savoie Mont Blanc Handball (FRA) 28:21 (13:12)
After SKA Minsk’s defeat in Magdeburg in Group A earlier on Sunday, Chambery were already in the quarter-finals before the start of the match in Spain, and through their convincing win, Granollers joined the French side among the quarter-finalists.
However, it took some time before Granollers’ command of the match became as clear as indicated by the final result. The first half was an equal affair, where the two teams were never separated by more than two goals – always in favour of Granollers.
The match seemed to be heading for a decision when Granollers created their first three-goal lead at 18:15 in the second half, but Chambery closed the gap then pulled ahead 19:18.
Through six straight goals, the home team turned the one-goal deficit into a 24:19 lead, and from that point, there was no doubt about the result.
TEXT: Peter Bruun / cg
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