Champions League Round 2 Review: Big Surprises! | Handball Planet
EHF

Champions League Round 2 Review: Big Surprises!

The 2nd round of the Champions League saw big surprises. These Saturday and Sunday we witnessed some unexpected results, that were result of the ‘underdogs’ showing great fight and winning some more respect worldwide.

In group A, yesterday Barcelona beat Schaffhausen with 30:26, while Zagreb trashed Bosna at home with 33:19, and today Chambery beat Savehof with 33:30

Group B saw Fuchse beating Vive Kielce, Veszprem beating Bjerringbro, while Atletico surprisingly only drew at home vs the Russian Champion, Chekhovski Medvedi.

Füchse Berlin (GER) vs. Vive Targi Kielce (POL) 30:27 (14:15

Debutant Füchse Berlin remain unbeaten, as Vive Targi Kielce remain with zero points after two matches. 7876 spectators saw a highly intense and close match of two top teams. Berlin took the points thanks to their great catch-up chase in the final stage of the match. Top scorers were pivot Torsten Laen (Füchse, 7 goals) and Grzegorz Tkaczyk (Kielce, 5).

Both teams started with full speed, but as the Berlin defence could not cope with the Kielce wing and back court players, the Polish runners-up increased the lead to 11:6. But when Spanish world star Iker Romero took the responsibility in the Füchse attack the rollercoaster turned the direction for the first time – and Berlin equalized at 14:14, after goalkeeper Silvio Heinevetter hd sgut the gate for minutes.

When the host took the lead at 17:15 the game changed again, as then Kielce had found their rhythm and increased the margin to 24:21 in minute 50. But thanks to a final 9:3 series Füchse took their first ever victory in the EHF Champions League.

BM Atletico Madrid (ESP) vs. Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) 30:30 (18:14)

Decades after the last international handball match in the shirts of Atletico Madrid the Spaniards missed the great chance to take their second victory. Nearly the whole 60 minutes Madrid was in lead, but then Eduard Koksharow equalized by a penalty shot in the last second.

Atletico was dominant before the break, and went to the winner’s way when they led 23:15. But the eight goals margin was decreased minute by minute, as the Russian defence improved and on the other hand Chekhovskie scored a 6:0 series to 21:23 – the game was open again. Thanks to a goal of Mikhail Chipurin the Russians led once at 25:24, before Madrid turned the game – until the very last second.

For Medvedi it was the second draw after the tie on home ground against Berlin. Lazarow (7) and Markussen (6) were the top scorers for Madrid, Filipow scored seven times for Medvedi.

In Group C, Cimos beat Wisla at home, and Hamburg expectedly beat Constanta away, while Saint Petersburg failed to capitalize on playing at home, and only drew at home against Metalurg, who now increased their chances to reach the TOP 16 Phase.

Finally, in Group D, the biggest surprise took place. The favorized team of THW Kiel lost at home against Montpellier, shocking handball europe. In the other game, Kobenhavn was convincing at home against Pick Szeged.

THW Kiel (GER) vs. Montpellier MAHB (FRA) 23:24 (14:10)

After 23 straight victories – 14 in preparation, nine in all competitions of this season – THW Kiel conceded their first defeat – as Montpellier turned the game after break thanks to their outstanding shooter William Accambray. He scored eight times in the second half. On the other hand THW goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer who will return to Montpellier in 2013 – showed a strong performance with 17 saves, top scorer of THW was Filip Jicha with six goals.

Montpellier now is equal in points with Kobenhavn (4) and two points ahead of Kiel.

THW could not cope with the excellent MAHB defence in the second half as the German runners-up only scored nine times in 30 minutes. In the first half the game went completely different: Montpellier failed against Omeyer and Kiel took a four goal margin to the dressing rooms. Then the explosive 30 minutes of Accambray started: He scored eight times – including the decisive 24:23, as Kiel missed their last chance with the final whistle.

Statements after the match:

Patrice Canayer, coach Montpellier: This game fulfilled all expectations – it was a great match. Our players took the challenge to win at this fortress of handball. Before the break we were weak in attack, but then we improved – and now we are absolutely proud that we have won this game. I hope that we meet Kiel again in Germany – a long time after the Group Stage. But this is a different story.

Alfred Gislason, coach Kiel: Montpellier had a higher quality than our team after the break. As we missed three or four important and 100 per cent chances in the second half we missed the victory. Montpellier was more efficient in attack.

Parts of the text: EHF

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