Telekom Veszprém - Sporting CP 35:29

 

 

Telekom Veszprém: Sterbik, Mikler– Manaskov 4, Ilic 1, Gajic 3, Nilsson 2, Nagy 1, Marguc 5, Strlek 7, Terzic, Blagotinsek 1, Nenadic 2, Mahé 3 (1), Szuharev, Mackovsek 3, Lékai 3

 

Sporting CP: Cudic, Gaspar – Valdez 3, Araujo, Pedroso, Ruesga 1, Carol 6, Solha 1, Rocha 6, Carneiro 4, Chiuffa, Ghionea 6 (3), Nikcevic, Frade 2

 

Penalties: 2/1 and 3/3

Suspensions: 4 min. and 6 min.

 

 

The first leg of the eight final of the Champions League ended with a Veszprém win by two goals in Lisbon, which is less than enough against any team in this period. Supporters knews that it was an important game for Veszprém, due this the teams were welcomed with great atmosphere from the first minute of the game.

 

However the guest team reached 2 goals lead in the first few minutes of the game Veszprém’s defense worked really well and Sterbik made some saves too. Gajic could equalize relatively shortly in the 8 minutes (3-3). After this Nilsson scored and Veszprém took over the one goal lead. Next goal only came by after 2 minutes from Sporting by Frankis (4-4). The home team could operate by fast-breaks thanks to the defense. After a technical mistake from the away team Ilic had modified the result for 7-4 when Sporting’s head coach, Canela called their first time-out during the game. The Portuguese team worked hard on decreasing the difference, but Kentin Mahé came for a penalty and scored keeping the 2 goal-lead for Veszprém (9-7). After this Gajic was succeed from a fast-break and Nagy made an excellent pass to Blagotinsek who scored his first goal during the game and increased the lead to 4 goals. Sporting have to played under pressure because Veszprém’s defense and they made some technical mistakes that home team punished mercilessly. Manaskov scored again in the 25 minutes (15-10). In the last few minutes Sporting came back to the game with 4 goals while Veszprém scored only two, so the teams went to the half time break by 3 goals difference (17-14).

 

In the second half Ghionea netted the first and the second goal as well from a penalty, and the equalizer goal came too from Sporting (17-17). The exciting period started here when two parties scored after each other. Blagotinsek got a suspension in the 40th minutes, but Veszprém had gained some extra energy and took over the lead by 3 goals with a phenomenal fast-break goal from Strlek, who forced out a suspension too in the 42nd minutes (23-19). Away team asked for its second time-out because Veszprém increased the difference for 5 goals (25-20). During the one player advance after another suspension on the guest half, the wing play worked well by Strlek, Mahé brought some dynamic rhythm when the result was 29-24 by his goal in the 51st minute. Portuguese tried to worked down their deficit but Veszprém grabbed the game in their hands right from here by 3 fast-breaks goal by Marguc in the 54th minutes and another time-out called by the guests (32-25). Saves from the goalies, because Mikler changed Sterbik, and many goals from the wings were dominated in the last period of the game (34-27). Thanks to the superb performance of the team the youngest player, Szuharev Lev could stepped on the court in his first Champions League game in the last few minutes. There were no more goals, so Veszprém qualified to the quarter final by a huge win in front our supporters (35-29).

 

 

David Davis: This game was complicated just like on Lisbon. Everybody was focused and we could correct the mistakes in attack and defense. For me, it was an easy job today, I only had to change the players. When the team is this focused, we are really strong. There is not team in the eight finals are good team. They need to have something to arrive. Sporting was a tough opponent at home and in away as well. Our players were amazing. Everybody has their goals, Sporting is raisin year by year. We also have goals and we are on our way. Congratulation to everyone who is helping us. Starting from our Supporters, the Club, the players. Thank you to everyone who helps us in reaching our goals.

 

Mirsad Terzic: We can be proud of this victory. We were preparing as it was our most important game, but we always prepare like this. I would like to congratulate to our Supporters, they were amazing. We have a great respect for Sporting and I would like to also congratulate them for the good games. We had more focus today but we always want to achieve more and more. Congratulations to my teammates too for the great play.

 

Hugo Canela: Congratulations to Veszprém for advancing to the quarterfinals. They are a strong team and played well today. I did not want this result because I feel like it is not fair, as we have worked worked a lot. Veszprém took advantage of all our mistake and they lead a lot of fastbreaks. Veszprém is the most difficult team to score against in organized attack. This has been a hell of a ride. We can be proud about arriving here. We have to be happy and feel that our weaknesses will show our strength. The ride is over, we learned a lot and my mother did not raise a quitter. My team is very strong, and we will live to see another day. Congratulations to all my player for their effort they do every day. All the best for Veszprém for the upcoming rounds.

 

Valentin Ghionea: Congratulations to Veszprém! This season they are fighting very hard to achieve the Final Four. Today they deserved to win and to go to the next round. We were also playing well and we proved that we have a place in the best 16. It was our first qualification to the best 16 and I hope that in the future we will be able to achieve more.

 

 

Photo: Dávid Vörös