25.11.2018, 08:48
Five-goal deficit no problem for Dicken

ROUND REVIEW: European debutants Dicken caught up a five-goal deficit to eliminate RK Partizan, while Dynamo-Victor also progress in the Men's Challenge Cup

Five-goal deficit no problem for Dicken

Dicken, who are debutants in Europe this season, continue to make history. Now, the Finnish runners-up are in the Last 16 of the Men’s Challenge Cup.

Dicken were five goals down after their visit to Belgrade last weekend, where they lost 33:28 to RK Belgrade. But that five-goal defeat turned out to be no real problem to the Finnish team, once they had the home right in the return match.

Already towards the end of the first half, Dicken caught up with the difference from the first leg, as they were leading 14:9.

At half time, the home team were still leading by the crucial five goals, as the score was 16:11.

In the second half, Dicken held on to a five or six-goal lead for a while, before Partizan reduced the difference to four goals at 23:19 and seemed to be heading for the overall win.

However, Dicken had a much better finish and got nine goals up at 29:20 before winning 32:25 to celebrate the Last 16 berth.

Ramhat Hashron turn the tide

ZNTU-ZAB Zaporozhye seemed to be heading for the next round after the first leg of the double-header in Israel against AS SGS Ramhat Rishon.

The Ukrainian visitors won the first match 32:27, but in the return match, the Israeli home team managed to turn the tide completely.

By way of a halftime lead of 16:12, Ramhat Rishon went on to a 33:25 and a three-goal win on aggregate.

With 10 goals each, Serbian right back Ljubomir Josic and Israeli playmaker Chen Pomeranz made their considerably contribution to their team´s triumph.

Dynamo-Victor are the victors

Dynamo-Victor already had a good chance to advance after visiting Dutch HV KRAS/Volendam last Saturday, as the match there ended in a 32:32 draw.

The Russian team ended up clinching their Last 16 berth, but not without trouble. The Stavropol based team took a clear lead from the start of the home match, but early in the second half, Volendam had caught up, as the score was 15:15.

As the second half went on, Dynamo got the upper hand and secured the Last 16 ticket through a 28:24 win.

The Bosnian tie between HC Vogosca Poljine Hills and R Borac m:tel appeared equal after the first leg, which Borac won 23:22 away.

However, the return match in Banja Luka was a different story. Borac was up 13:8 at half-time, and in the second half, the home team got stronger and stronger and cruised to a 30:18 win.

Having won the first leg 40:25, ØIF Arendal were virtually already in the next round, and the Norwegian team were never in trouble in the return match in Turkey against Göztepe SK.

Arendal led by three or four goals several times before taking a 28:28 draw with them home to Norway.

TEXT: Peter Bruun/jh