Grundfos Tatabánya - Telekom Veszprém 21:30

 

 

Grundfos Tatabánya: Székely, Deményi – Bozovic 4, Pásztor, Vujovic 6 (4), Juhász 2, Sipos 1, Rozner, Nagy, Borzas, Ilyés 1, Rosta 1, Grigoras 4, Dénes, Vrankovic 2

 

Telekom Veszprém: Mikler, Sterbik – Manaskov 1, Ilic 4, Tonnesen, Gajic 3 (3), Nilsson 3, Nagy 1, Marguc 4, Strlek 3, Terzic, Blagotinsek, Nenadic, Mahé 2, Mackovsek 5, Lékai 4

 

Penalties: 4/4 and 3/3

Suspensions: 8 min. and 18 min.

 

 

The game started with a Sterbik save and a Strlek goal from that fastbreak, then Mahé scored a huge goal which made it 0:2 for us. The first two minute suspension was Blagotinsek’s , but Tatabánya could not score on Sterbik still, who was later suspended for a bad shift. Veszprém had a 3:5 lead in the 10th minute, but it was equalized by Vujovic’s penalty by the 12th minute. The two parties got the hang of each other by the 15th minute and scored back and forth while aggressiveness dominated in defense. This was the time when Nilsson got into the game and made a difference by scoring three goals and drawing a penalty. We had a three goals lead by the 20th minute, which was later expanded to four by the 25th minute. We made some technical mistakes as there were times when we were three men down but managed to survive this hard time with a 0:1, as Tatabánya hurried in offense. The first half ended with a 10:15 guest lead.

 

The second period started with a Manaskov goal, and then Ilic scored two great goal from nine meters expanding the lead. In the 38th minute Mackovsek was suspended for two minutes after which Tatabánya scored immediately. Vujovic scored from a penalty in the 40th minute, bringing his team closer to, but after that, Ilyés was suspended, and Marguc scored two goals right away bringing the 16:21 back. Sterbik made some great saves, while Lékai scored from break through and Mackovsek scored from fastbreak. Vujovic scored again from penalty cutting their deficit to five goals 20:25. Tatabánya got tired to the end of the game and we could expand our lead further with easy goals. There was a bit of a brawl at the end of the game, which saw Grigoras, Terzic and Blagotinsek out for two minutes, but Blaz had two already, so he got a red card. The final result is a confident 21:30 victory, with which we have qualified for the Hungarian Cup Final Four in Debrecen.

 

 

David Davis: I asked them to play a serious match and of course I got it back in all aspect. I am happy for this victory. It is always hard to play in Tatabánya. I am satisfied because we qualified for the cup, which we want to win just as the Champions League and the championship as well. Today the players show that they can perform well every time they are focused. It is a pleasure to be here right now. I would like to send my condolences to Vladan Matic and his family in the name of the Veszprém handball family.

 

Momir Ilic: It is difficult to play here, we knew it before. We prepared ourselves well and we made some good trainings in the last days. This is the way we have to prepare and to start the game and to be focused 60 minutes. We are in a good moment mentally and physically as well. How we played these games in February, it was excellent. We have the power and motivation for sure. Much better than the first part of the season. We just have to continue like this, this is not the finish at all. We prepare well for every match and training, and take everything step by step.

 

 

Jakab Sibalin: First, congratulations to Veszprém. We wanted to show them, that it is really hard to play here. We could only do that from time to time. I think that it is hard to play against two European top teams in four days, not exactly physically but mentally mostly and a team in such a great form punished it. I am thinking about the end of the first half, or when we could get closer in the second half, or in the last seconds. They used the opportunities well.

 

Miklós Rosta: Congartulations to Veszprém. I had a hard time in the wall, but I think those little mistakes that we did not do against Szeged and did now, got us in trouble in a form of fastbreaks. Our defense was not so good neither. We have some injured players but I think we can still go on physically and I hope it will last until the end of the season.

 

 

Photo: Dávid Vörös