12.09.2018, 09:22
Paris secure comfortable win in Group B opener

GROUP B REVIEW: Last year's semi-finalists got their 2018/19 VELUX EHF Champions League campaign off to a perfect start against Motor Zaporozhye

Paris secure comfortable win in Group B opener

For their first game into the new VELUX EHF Champions League season, Paris snatched a deserved away victory in Zaporozhye. For their first time in Groups A&B, the Ukrainian side tried their best, but the five-goal advantage they conceded in the first half was too much to make up.

• Nedim Remili was the top scorer with eight goals
• Zaporozhye's centre-backs starred as Malasinskas scored six and Pukhouski five
• The hosts were never able to take control of the game, their first in Group B

GROUP B
HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) vs Paris Saint-Germain HB (FRA) 29:35 (12:17)

The perfect mix of youth talent and experience is what Paris displayed in the first half. After a short round of observation, they took the upper hand on the game, making the most of Zaporozhye’s defensive issues.

With left-handers Nedim Remili and Luc Abalo taking charge of scoring goals - five each in the first half - the away team went back to the dressing room with a five-goal advantage, 17:12.

They managed to maintain that lead through most of the second half. No matter how hard Barys Pukhouski or Pawel Paczkowski were trying for Zaporozhye, Paris were confident enough to keep the advantage.

A save from Thierry Omeyer here, a goal by Nikola Karabatic there, last year’s semi-finalists were never really threatened by the home team.

Throwing everything into the game, the locals even tried to play 7 against 6, only allowing Omeyer to score three and Paris to take a comfortable away win.

TEXT: Kevin Domas/jh