06.05.2018, 04:09
Lublin with an edge after draw in first match

MATCH REVIEW: The Polish champions close the gap right at the end to give themselves a good shot at lifting gold at home in the return leg

Lublin with an edge after draw in first match

11 days after winning the Polish championship, MKS Perla Lublin managed a draw 22:22 away against Rocasa Gran Canaria in the first leg of the Women's Challenge Cup.

The result gives Lublin a good chance ahead of the return match in Poland.

Women's Challenge Cup final - 1. Leg

Rocasa Gran Canaria (ESP) vs MKS Perla Lublin (POL) 22:22 (10:10)

11 days after making sure of winning the Polish championship, Perla Lublin took a rather big step towards winning the Women's Challenge Cup as well.

The draw in Gran Canaria Sunday afternoon gives the Polish side a certain edge ahead of the return match in the Globus Hall of Lublin next Sunday night.

Lublin got the better start and a 3:0 lead, before Rocasa caught up at 3:3 after 10 minutes.

On the quarter of an hour, the home team had their first lead at 6:5, but for the rest of the low-scoring first half, the visitors were in charge.

Lublin were even leading by two goals at 9:7 and 10:8, but the hosts managed to catch up again by half-time.

The Polish champions also scored two goals at 12:10 and 17:15, but with their 5-1 defence, Rocasa had a certain success against the visitors' attacking play, and from 18:17, it was the home team's turn to be in the lead.

Rocasa, who won the Challenge Cup two years ago, were even leading by two goals at 22:20 with less than two minutes left.

Just as Rocasa had done in the first half, however, Lublin caught up at the end.

This way, they put themselves in a favourable position before the second leg at home.

TEXT: Peter Brunn / bc