Telekom Veszprém - MOL-Pick Szeged 35:24

 

 

Telekom Veszprém: Sterbik, Mikler – Manaskov 4, Ilic 1, Tonnesen 1, Gajic 9 (6), Nilsson 3, Nagy 3, Terzic, Blagotinsek 1, Nenadic 6, Mahé 2, Mackovsek 2, Lékai 3

 

MOL-Pick Szeged: Alilovic, Sego, Nagy – Maqueda 5, Kallman 1, Bodó, Sigurmannsson 1 (1), Canellas 7 (4), Henigman, Sunajko, Gaber, Sostaric 2, Bánhidi 3, Kasparek, Bombac, Zhitnikov 5

 

Penalties: 6/6 and 8/5

Suspension: 14 min. and 8 min.

 

 

Telekom Veszprém started the 1st leg of 2019 Hungarian championship final, but could not score, while on the other side Bánhidi fought for a penalty and Canellas got the lead for Szeged. After this, both teams made technical mistakes, and equalizer only came in the 5th minute by Gajic from penalty. A minute later, László Nagy took the 2:1 lead. The score was equal 3:3 in the 8th minute, and the parties were still in a stalemate in the 12th minute, 5:5. In this minute Blagotinsek got his second suspension. The teams were head to head, with mostly Veszprém in the lead, which was always equalized by Szeged. The score was 8:8 in the 16th minute. Veszprém could leap over its opponent first in the 19th minute, when took a lead of 10:8 and a minute later, 11:8. The lead did not hold for too long, and Szeged came back to one goal in the 22nd minute, equalized in the 24th and even took the lead in the 26th, 12:13. Blagotinsek received a red card in the 27th minute after his third suspension, which ruled him out of the remainder of the game. Although both teams could get a bigger lead in the first half, the things were left open for the second period. At half time, 13:14 for Szeged.

 

The first goal of the second half was scored by Bánhidi, and then came Nenadic. After a bad attack from Szeged, László Nagy scored from the fastbreak. After Nagy’s goal the teams went head to head again and the result was 17:17. Mikler saved his second penalty, this time Sigurmannsson’s, after two minutes, Veszprém took a 18:17 lead. With Manaskov’s goal the result became 19:17 for Veszprém, right after this he scored again making the difference three. Szeged called for a timeout immediately. The score was 21:17 for Veszprém, a minute later 22:18. Dragan Gajic was at his eighth goal by then. Szeged started to make mistakes in attack, which were punished by Veszprém and made the difference five goals by the 44th minute. The result in the 49th minute was 25:19, the biggest difference so far. Szeged started to play in a hurry, and made turnovers after turnovers, that is why Veszprém took a nine-goals lead by the 50th minute, 28:19. Szeged could not find itself, while Veszprém was efficient in offense and went 31:20. Mikler made great saves, the defense played well in front if him, while in offense, the team was dynamic and lead great plays. The result became 34:22 by the 58th minute and this big difference stayed until the end. Final result: Telekom Veszprém – MOL-Pick Szeged 35:24

 

 

David Davis: I am so satisfied with the performance of the team and our fans. They were excellent. The game was equal in the first half. Everybody was focused well. In the second half everyone played well, Petar Nenadic was fresh and this was because of the rotation. It is the first half of the clash, we do not need to sleep over, because we know what happens then. We need to focus in Szeged, because they are our biggest rival. We would like to win there as well.

 

Petar Nenadic: I think the coach told everything. The first half was equal but in the second half we played our best 30 minutes this year. As David said this match was just the first half, Szeged is a very good team. We must start the next game like it is 0-0. Thank you to our fans for supporting us. We do not have time to celebrate as we have only one day to rest, then we have to travel to Szeged and we have to play a good game there too.

 

Juan Carlos Pastor: First of all, congratulations to Veszprém for the win. They were much better than us in the second half. We played well in the first period, but we could not do that in the second one. Those few chances we created, we could not finish. We conceded 22 goals, which is a lot. I am sorry for the fans who came to see us and were besides us all year. The Champions League elimination had a big effect on our players. It took a long time to grow up to Veszprém, and to be equal with them, now we stepped back three years. We have to show our pride on Sunday and win the game at home, to show that we can beat Veszprém. We have to stand up and win. Congratulations to Veszprém once again, and to David Davis as well. Good luck in the Final4.

 

Jonas Kallman: I will be honest I am shameful of what we did today. We started good but in the second half we totally fell apart. As for me, I am really disappointed, this is not the level I should play. I need to continue the hard work to be able to play much better. I am really sorry for our fans both who were here and watched us at home. We will do our best at home, in front of our supporters to win the game. Congratulations to Veszprém David and the team, they were really good today.

 

 

Photo: Dávid Vörös