08.03.2020, 04:40
Podravka reach first semi-final in 12 years

QUARTER-FINAL REVIEW: Croatian champions beat Thüringer HC for the second time and cruise through to the Women’s EHF Cup semi-finals

The burden of a four-goal deficit from the first leg in Croatia was too much for Thüringer HC to handle, while Podravka Vegeta proved too strong for their hosts in the Women’s EHF Cup quarter-final.

One week after the 27:23 win on home court, the Koprivnica-based team were the first in this EHF Cup season to win in Nordhausen with a comfortable 34:28 victory, winning 61:51 on aggregate.

• after taking a 22:21 lead in the 45th minute, Podravka never looked back
• Emily Bölk scored nine in her last international match for THC before she will join FTC next season
• eleven different players scored for Podravka, topped by Tsakalou and Mugosa with six strikes each
• Podravka will face the winner of Herning-Ikast vs Bistrita-Nasaud in the semi-finals

QUARTER-FINAL, SECOND LEG
Thüringer HC (GER) vs HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO) 28:34 (15:17)

Without their top stars Iveta Koresova (pregnancy) and Meike Schmelzer (broken foot), Thüringer HC’s international campaign came to an end on Sunday, while Podravka fight for a spot in their first final since 2006.

The home side held an advantage in the initial stages, but never managed to claw back the four-goal gap from the first leg. Their guests remained patient and thanks to a great rotation of the squad, their top players were powerful enough to withstand the early pressure.

THC’s last lead was at 15:14, before a 3:0 run turned the game on its head just before the break. The host’s resistance was more or less broken, despite great support from the stands, and Podravka eased to a six-goal win in the final quarter.

Greek international Lamprini Tsakalou, who had netted nine times in the first leg, was one of the most important Podravka players once again, top scoring with six goals alongside Dijana Mugusa.

This is the first time the Croatian club have reached a European semi-final since the 2007/08 Cup Winners’ Cup and now wait to see whether they will Herning-Ikast or Bistrita-Nasaud in the first two weeks of April.

With 15 goals over two legs, Lamprini Tsakalou was on for Podravka Vegeta against THC. Catch the Greek international's best moments in the #EHFCup quarter-final! pic.twitter.com/rbcXXlp10e

— EHF European Cup (@ehf_ec) March 8, 2020

TEXT: Björn Pazen / cor