Telekom Veszprém - SG Flensburg-Handewitt 29:25

 

 

Telekom Veszprém: Sterbik, Mikler – Manaskov 1, Ilic 1, Tonnesen, Gajic 6 (5), Nilsson 5, Nagy 2, Marguc 2, Strlek 1, Terzic, Blagotinsek 1, Nenadic 3, Mahé 4, Mackovsek 1, Lékai 2

 

SG Flensburg-Handewitt: Buric, Bergerud – Karlsson, Golla 1, Hald 4, Glandorf 1, Svan 2, Wanne 7 (2), Jeppsson 3, Joendal, Steinhauser 1, Zachariassen, Johanessen 1, Lauge Schmidt 4, Röd 1

 

Penalties: 5/5 and 2/2

Suspensions: 6 min. and 2 min.

 

 

 

Today, Veszprem started its last game in the knock-out phase of CL by great advantage as they clinched 6 goals lead at Flens Arena in the first game of the clash.

 

However, Veszprem started the game the away team took a 5 goals lead in the 6th minutes, David Davis should have called her first time out relatively shortly. The most populated audience in the Veszprem Arena’s history had to wait for Veszprem’s first goal until the 9 minutes when László Nagy netted, but Lauge could score immediately from a fast-break (6th min.: 1-6). There were some technical mistakes from both parties. Thanks to Andreas Nilsson’s line-goal Veszprem reduced the deficit (12th min.: 4-7). Gajic could score from a penalty during Blagotinsek suspension and Mikler came to the goal by a huge save as he changed Sterbik (15th min.: 5-8). Another penalty another goal from Gajic who modified the difference to 2 goals. David Davis had tried to change the attackers, Wanne missed then home team could equalize by Nilsson (19th min.: 9-9). Two more goal came from the away team and another time-out called by the home team’s head coach in the 22 minutes at 9-11. Mikler saved, Mahé scored a huge goal, Lauge answered immediately but Manaskov netted brilliantly from the home team’s 6 line. Gajic showed up by another action goal, Manaskov stole the ball then Blagotinsek could score to the empty net and Maik Machulla had to called their first time out. (26th min.: 14-12). Big performance in the last few minutes from Veszprem. Thanks to Mikler saves they could score to the empty net and Manaskov just filtered the passes from the guest team’s wings. Veszprem not just took over the lead but they went to the half-time break by 4 goals advantage (Half time: 17-13).

 

The first two goals were coming by the guest team in the second half but Nenadic scored as well (4th min.: 18-15) Goals from both side by Lékai and Svan in the 7th minutes. László Nagy scored which made it 20-17 for Veszprem in the 9th minutes. Flensburg was still fighting hard in order to decrease the difference but Wanne missed from action when Machulla called time out. At the half of the second half the game was characterized by goalies. Nilsson stepped back on the court after his injury and could increased the advantage to 5 goals as netted two times (17th min.: 24-19). Atmosphere went to an excellent level as Veszprem could increase the lead to 6 goals in the 20th minutes. Jeppsson tried to keep the rhythm and reduce the difference as he scored three times but home team played good handball as well (25th min.: 26-23). Mikler saved few times in the last period and Mahé fixed the result to 29-25. 

 

 

David Davis: Thank you to everyone. It is a great day for the club the city and for me also. Thanks to my wife and my family, for supporting me in the changes we have went through. Thanks to the club, which is behind me from the first day, and for the supporters, who are always with us and behind us. Also thanks to our Managing Director Zoltán Csík, who made this crazy decision to sign me. I feel important to say this because I know that it is impossible to achieve big things alone. We returned to Cologne and a team like this should be there every year but it is very difficult to do. With the help of everyone, you can do big things. I know that it is not easy to support me every day, so thanks for the players who are our patrimony. I am so proud of their work. Everyone expected them to qualify and it made it a tough game for them. A lot of respect to Maik Machulla and congrats to them for this season. I hope they win the Bundesliga again. Flensburg is a great team; they are discipline and work well. About the match, we wanted to win, and we did it. It was complicated but we are going to Cologne.

 

Dragan Gajic: It was very difficult to start the game as everybody expected an easy win but it was very difficult as the first 15 minutes showed it. We were stressed and under pressure, but I think it is normal. I would like to wish Flensburg good luck in the Bundesliga. I would like to say thank you to our supporters who were behind us even when we were five goals behind. Thank you to my wife and family for the support. This is our moment to celebrate.

 

Maik Machulla: Congratulations to David and Veszprém for this win, and for the qualification to Cologne. It is well deserved looking at both games. We came with a little hope to change the result but we knew that it will be a tough game again but to win here is with seven goals is much more difficult. We started good and let Veszprém come up too easily. We made mistakes and made bad decisions. We took a bit of risk, it worked in the beginning. The second half we kept fighting and this was the most important to me that my team did not give up. We are disappointed of course. Once again, congratulation to Veszprém, we got knocked out again in the quarterfinal, and the team that knocked us out in the last four years won the Champions League. Good luck to them to keep this streak going.

 

Simon Jeppsson: Congratulations to Veszprém! At the beginning we had a good tactic that worked well, but then we made easy mistakes and let Veszprém to come back to the game. In the second half we did everything what we could and fought until the end. It is very hard to play against such a good team with great players and in an amazing atmosphere. Now we have some days off to regenerate and we are looking forward to the following weeks as we will have important matches in the Bundesliga where our goal is the final victory.

 

 

Photo: Dávid Vörös