Čupić beats buzzer, Kielce win Group in Szeged

Vive Tauron Kielce beat Pick Szeged 27:26 after a dramatic match. Kielce fans saw probably the most thrilling game of the season so far. Both teams showed different faces, the turn of events was unexpected, but in the end team from Kielce turned out to be better by one goal. This victory hands Polish team first place in the group D.

The Saturday game was very important for the teams because the stake was first place in the group table. Vive, unbeaten so far, arrived in Szeged quite weakened – besides lasting absence of Aginagalde, Reichmann, and Rosiński, injury of Uroš Zorman prevented him from playing. Pick, beaten in Champions League only by Kielce, wanted to take a revenge against Polish champions and keep a chance for the first place.

Kielce started very decently – they gained a small advantage from the first minutes. Their defence worked quite well and additionally they were backed by Šego in the goal. However, 10 minutes were enough for Pick to improve their defence. Kielce started having problems with breaking through it and Pick had a chance to equalize at 6:6 but failed to score. Instaed, Kielce pulled out and lead 8:5. After about 20 minutes of the game, Pick’s coach decided to give Piotr Wyszomirski a chance and, as it turned out very soon, he hit the bull’s eye. Polish goalie started by saving Buntić’s penalty throw; he also managed to stop Čupić and last seconds throw from Jachlewski. Still, Kielce team kept the lead and the halftime result was 11:14.

In the second half, spectators could have thought that the teams exchanged shirts during the break. Kielce stopped in attack, they either kept missing or were rejected by Wyszomirski. In 34. Pick equalized at 15:15, and right after that they took their first lead (16:15). Coach Duyshebaev decided to put Szmal instead of Šego in the goal but Szmal didn’t look good either. Vive seemed pretty helpless and confused while Szeged looked confident. Polish team just couldn’t find the way to score; Szeged stayed strong in defence and the chances were wasted or saved by Wyszomirski. In 10 minutes Hungarian team managed to make up 6 goals (20:17, 41. minute); 5 minutes later the gap was 4 goals (22:18). Kielce defenders couldn’t cope with Bombač and Rajko Prodanović. Finally, with 10 minutes to go, Szmal started saving throws but his team mates still couldn’t score. It seemed like in 54 minute Michał Jurecki decided to show his mates how to score and defend. He scored twice and with 3 minutes to go, Musa equalized at 25:25. Strong defence paid off and Štrlek gave his team the lead again (25:26). Poles thought they got even closer to the victory when Jurecki scored again, but the goal was decided to be scored against the rules and in 29. minute Pick scored for 26:26. Kielce had the ball but Tkaczyk hit the goalpost and Pick got the ball. Thanks to risky but good defending from Štrlek, one of the Pick players made an attacking foul and Kielce had a chance to win. This time Kielce didn’t waste it – Ivan Čupić hit the net and Kielce won the match.

Pick: Sierra, Wyszomirski – Ancsin 1, Balogh 4, Blazevic, Bombac 3/2, Fekete, Garcia Parrondo 2, Garcia Roblego 1, Ilyes 3, Kallman 4, Mindegia Elizaga, Prodanovic 6, Vatkerti, Vranjes 1, Zubai 1.

Vive: Szmal, Sego – Bielecki 6/3, Buntić 1, Chrapkowski 1, Cupić 4, Grabarczyk, Jachlewski, Jurecki 6, Lijewski 2, Musa 2, Strlek 2, Tkaczyk 3, Zorman.

Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) vs HC Motor Zaporozhye 31:29 (17:17)

STANDINGS:

TEXT: Martyna Usnarska