Sporting CP - Telekom Veszprém 28:30

 

 

Sporting CP: Cudic, Gaspar – Valdez 3, Araujo 3, Bjelanovic, Pedroso 2, Ruesga, Marzo 3, Solha, Rocha, Carneiro 1, Chiuffa 2, Ghionea 7 (5), Nikcevic 2, Frade 5

 

Telekom Veszprém: Sterbik, Mikler – Manaskov 2 (1), Ilic 3, Gajic 1, Nilsson 2, Nagy 5, Marguc 1, Strlek 3, Terzic, Blagotinsek 1, Nenadic 8 (5), Mahé 2, Mackovsek, Lékai 2

 

Penalties: 5/5 and 8/6

Suspensions: 8 min. and 6 min.

 

 

Today, Telekom Veszprém started the knock-out phase of Champions League in Portugal where Sporting CP hosted the first leg of the eight finals. Almost 140 Veszprém fans traveled to Lisbon to support the “Építők”.

 

Veszprém started the game with 2 technical mistakes while the home team with two goals (2nd min.: 2:0). In the 5th minute, Nagy scored a goal and modified the result for 3:2. The today’s game was our captain’s 250th European cup game. Thanks to the goals of Marguc and Strlek, the guest team could equalize in the 10th minute (5:5). In the 15th minute, after the lucky goal of Sporting, coach Davis called a time-out when the result was 8:7. In the next minutes Veszprém was not able to take over the lead, while Mikler substituted to Sterbik and Blagotinsek got his second 2-minute suspension. In the 23rd minute, Nenadic scored from his second penalty shot too and reduced the difference to 12:11. Our Serbian player could stand behind the line again in the 29th minute and succeeded from that penalty tot and equalized the result (14:14). But the home team had the last attack of the first half and Valdez set the result 15:14.

 

The first goal of the second half was scored by Sporting thanks to Frade after more than two minutes. Nagy answered by a nice goal. In the 35th minute the Portuguese team still had a minimum lead after the penalty goal of Nenadic (17:16). Then Nagy equalized. But the home team had quickly a 3-goal lead for the 39th minute (20:17). In the 45th minute the Sporting still had a 2-goal lead. The visitors tried to keep the rhythm with the home team thanks to the goals of Nenadic while Sterbik came back to the goal and had some saves immediately. In the 51st minute, Mahé forced out a penalty and a 2-minute suspension. Nenadic scored from the line then Manskov netted two time into the empty net and took over the lead to Veszprém (23rd min.: 24:25). 5 minutes before the end of the game the Hungarian team had the lead and one minute later Gajic doubled it (25:27). In the 58th minute Valdez then Nagy could score keeping the minimal lead. After that Mahé had a fast-break goal (27:29). In the last minute Ghionea scored from penalty and reduced their deficit for one goal but Veszprém had a time for an attack. Coach Davis called a time-out then Nenadic scored again. 9 seconds before the end the home team called a time-out but after that Sterbik could save the last shot of the match. It meant that Telekom Veszprém could win the first leg of the eight final for 28:30.

 

David Davis: Congratulations to coach Hugo Canela, he is really making a step forward with Sporting. Today it was very clear that they play really good handball and they are a dangerous team at home. We knew it. We did not start well, and then everything was complicated. We could use more rotation but the game was hard. We prepared the best way we could. Now we have a week to prepare for the second leg. Before we came here, I said that we are coming to win. This is only the first half of the clash. We want to win all games and reach Final4, like everyone. We have a match on Tuesday, and then we will prepare at home for Saturday. We had a lot of problem with everything. Congratulations to Sporting and the fans, they made a great atmosphere. We have to better prepared for Saturday.

 

Kentin Mahé: We won the game and that is good but we cannot be really satisfied. It is good to win in away but we have to win the next half at home. We were expecting this atmosphere. Everybody can see that Portuguese handball is rising and it is very nice to see. Sporting is a very good team so we had many difficulties. I think we showed some characters, and I am proud of my teammates. This satisfying to win the game like this. We are going to work, work, work. Thank you for today, it was an amazing atmosphere.

 

 

Hugo Canela: First, congratulations to Veszprém. We are proud to be able to host a team like them in our own hall. I am also proud that they enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere that our supporters created. Congratulations to them for the victory. We knew that we are going to face an incredible team. I think we fought a lot, and I think that we created a real problem for Veszprém. We missed some situations in the second half and with Veszprém’s experience, they won. I am really proud of my team, they stuck to the plan, and missed only a few details. They could look into the Veszprém players’ eyes. They are warriors and my congratulations to them. Today we are living a dream now, and we still think that we have a chance. We will put all of our strength to this week’s work.

 

Luis Frade: I think it was a tough game and I am proud of my team. Veszprém is a huge European team. We have a second game and we have a lot of things to do.

 

 

Photo: Dávid Vörös