SG Flensburg-Handewitt - Telekom Veszprém 22:28

 

 

SG Flensburg-Handewitt: Buric, Bergerud – Karlsson, Golla 1, Hald 2, Glandorf 5, Svan 3, Wanne, Jeppsson 1, Joendal 5 (2), Steinhauser, Zachariassen, Johannessen, Gottfridsson 1, Lauge 3, Röd 1

 

Telekom Veszprém: Sterbik, Mikler – Manaskov 2, Ilic 2, Tonnesen 2, Gajic 1, Nilsson 6, Nagy 2, Marguc 2, Strlek 2, Terzic, Blagotinsek, Nenadic 1, Mahé 2 (1), Mackovsek 3, Lékai 3

 

Penalties: 4/2 and 3/1

Suspensions: 6 min. and 8 min.

 

 

Telekom Veszprém visited SG Flensburg-Handewitt today in order to play the first game of VELUX EHF Champions League quarterfinal. The goal of the guest team was to achieve the best possible result for the second match at home next Saturday. The first goal was scored by Joendal from penalty then Röd could double the lead (3rd min.: 2:0). Lauge made bigger the difference while Blagotinsek was suspended for 2 minutes. Lékai scored the first goal of Veszprém (6th min.: 3:1). In the 10th minute, the fans of ‘Építők” could be happy because the goals of Mackovsek, Manaskov and Lékai equalized the result at 4:4. In the next minutes the team were head-to-head but in the 15th minutes Ilic and Lékai built up a 2-goal led to Veszprém. Ilic’s big effort resulted a steal then he netted a huge goal (18th min.: 6:9). The whistle of home fans did not disturb Mahé who scored his first goal in the 20th minute but Joendal answered quickly (9:11). In the 25th minutes Svan could equalize than took the lead for the German champion. But Nilsson answered quickly (13:13). After the time-out of coach Davis the Swedish pivot could score again but Glandorf was accurate, too. In the last minute of the first half Buric saved the penalty of Manaskov so the teams went at result 15:15 to the locker rooms.

 

The second period started with the save of Mikler who replaced Strebik and the penalty goal of Mahé. Then Mikler saved again and Mackovsek doubled the lead from a fastbreak goal. In the turn of 35-36th minute Svan and Nagy scored once (16:18). One minute later Mikler saved the penalty of Joendal then Karlsson were suspended for 2 minutes. Nenadic and Nilsson benefitted from the advantage (39th min.: 16:20). Mikler saved the penalty of Wanne, too, then Nagy made the lead for 5 goals, then Strlek for 6 (44th min.: 16:22). Coach Machulla called his last time-out at result 17:23 in the 46th minute. But Mikler performed his 6th save, reaching the 75% efficiency in that moment. In the 50th minute the Hungarian record champion still had a 5-goal lead. In the 55th minute Veszprém could score again after 8 minutes but the difference was still 5 goals thanks to the great defense and long attacks of the guest team. Mikler saved again, Nilsson and Strlek scored and the Hungarian side was leading by seven, one minute before the end (21:28). Glandorf scored and Davis called his last time-out for the last 30 seconds. The guests could not score from the last attack but the 22:28 final result is a very favorable achievement for Telekom Veszprém in the first game of quarterfinal.

 

 

David Davis: I am so satisfied because the players did an excellent game. It was not easy for us, because of the changes in the team. Sometimes we played a bit irregular. When everyone is focused, we can play games like this. It is very complicated to play in the Champions League quarterfinals, because all teams are really good, like Flensburg, who is playing amazing handball. Today our team was very good, and when Roland Mikler entered to the second half we could make the difference. This is only the first half of the encounter and we need to play 60 minutes more. We are not going to relax, not even for a second.

 

Andreas Nilsson: To play here in Flensburg is always hard. We did not expect this result, of course, but we had 4 or 5 days more to prepare than Flensburg had. I think the tactical form from our side was good today. We did a great match and we can be happy with this result.

 

 

Maik Machulla: We are very disappointed with the result and with the performance, we showed in the second half. We could not find the level we needed in a Champions League quarterfinal. We have to be honest and say that we met a team today, which played much better than us. They had a strong and physical defense and we did not have the space we need for our kind of play. They made it very difficult for us today. We still have very important games to play and we have to focus on those as well. We will play in the Bundesliga then start preparing for the second game in Veszprém. We will see what we can do there. I am disappointed, there is nothing more to say.

 

Tobias Karlsson: Congrats to Veszprém. I think they played more synchronized handball in offense and they had the better defense and the better goalkeeper in the second half. That was the difference. We did not reach the level we used to play on and want to play on. We have to analyze it and for sure we will do. Then we will see what we can do better in the away game in Veszprém. I am sure that we can play better handball than we performed in the second half today.

 

 

Photo: Dávid Vörös