Limoges write history; Spacva Vinkovci mount sensational comeback

In the rest of the matches in the qualification round, Ystads IF HF, Fraikin BM. Granollers, MT Melsungen, HC Kriens-Luzern, HCB Karvina, VfL Gummersbach and Bjerringbro-Silkeborg defended their leads in the return legs to confirm their progress to the next phase in the second-tier club competition.

QUALIFICATION ROUND, LEG 2:

Maritimo da Madeira Andebol/SAD (POR) vs Ystads IF HF (SWE) 35:33 (15:16)

Ystads win 72:66 on aggregate

Aware of Madeira's flying start in the first leg, Ystads did not let the hosts rush into taking the lead and, instead, they were the ones dictating the tempo of the opening half, as they held a three-goal lead (6:3) in the ninth minute. The Portuguese club tried to narrow down the difference, but the energetic visitors stood their ground and took a minimal lead at the break. Madeira displayed an improved performance in the second half, successfully mounted a comeback and even held a four-goal lead on a few occasions towards the 45th minute. However, the time was not on Madeira's side and Ystads consolidated their ranks to suffer only a two-goal defeat, which secured them a place in the EHF European League Men group phase. Madeira's left back, Délcio Moreno de Pina, was the match's top scorer with 12 goals to his name, while Niclas Ekberg scored 10 for the visitors and ended the tie with 19 goals overall, proving his quality in the EHF club competitions once again.

Fraikin BM. Granollers (ESP) vs IFK Kristianstad (SWE) 30:28 (15:15)

Granollers win 62:57 on aggregate

The Spanish club had to work hard in the return leg, as Kristianstad displayed an intent to mount a comeback in the tie and the encouraged visitors took a three-goal lead (4:1) in the fifth minute of the match. Additionally, the Swedish club led throughout the first half, leaving the tie wide open going into the second half with the teams even at the break. However, just like in the first leg, Kristianstad's performance started to deteriorate after half-time, while Granollers increased the tempo and quickly rushed into a comfortable four-goal lead (20:16) in the 38th minute, signaling determination to finish the job. The Swedish side made a late attempt to get back into the match, but Granollers' experience proved crucial and Antonio Jesus Garcia Robledo displayed another excellent performance, as the veteran scored eight goals and was the top scorer of the match. The 40-year-old Robledo ended the tie with 16 goals to his name and Granollers celebrated making a comeback in the EHF European League's group phase after a one-year absence.

Elverum Håndball (NOR) vs MT Melsungen (GER) 31:36 (16:17)

Melsungen win 64:54 on aggregate

The hopeful hosts enjoyed a dream start as Elverum held a three-goal lead (7:4) in the eighth minute, closing in on Melsungen's advantage from the first leg, but it did not take long for Roberto Garcia Parrondo's squad to begin a scoring run and get back into the match. The German club's maiden lead (9:8) came in the 15th minute through Dainis Kristopans and from then on, it was a one-way street for Elverum. Melsungen started the second half on the front foot and their advantage kept on growing as the minutes went by. Rogerio Moraes Ferreira was an unsolvable enigma for the hosts' defence, as the Brazilian line player scored seven goals from eight attempts and was the game’s top scorer, while Nebojsa Simic made 12 saves and recorded a 32 per cent save efficiency, ending Elverum's hopes of mounting a comeback in the tie. In the end, Melsungen celebrated a well-deserved and even more convincing win than the one on home soil, leaving a powerful impression ahead of their debut appearance in the EHF European League's group stage. 

GC Amicitia Zürich (SUI) vs HC Kriens-Luzern (SUI) 38:34 (16:18)

Kriens-Luzern win 71:69 on aggregate

The Swiss derby was full of turnarounds as the Luzern-based club started the match in a better fashion and held a four-goal lead during most of the first half, but the hosts narrowed down the difference just before half-time. Amicitia Zürich displayed an iron character to get back into the match and the hosts took the lead (26:25) in the 46th minute, setting up a thrilling finish. However, Kriens-Luzern's six-goal advantage from the first leg played in their hands as Amicitia Zürich ran out of time to mount a full comeback and the visitors celebrated reaching the EHF European League Men group phase in the end. Once again, Martin Popovski was Amicitia Zürich's top scorer with six goals, while the talented duo – Luca Sigrist (9) and Gino Steenaerts (7) – combined for 16 goals together and were the difference-makers in helping Kriens-Luzern get their progress over the line.

RK Bjelin Spacva Vinkovci (CRO) vs Valur (ISL) 32:24 (19:10)

Valur win 58:57 on aggregate

The Croatian club was determined to make life difficult for Valur in Vinkovci and Spacva wasted no time in getting in front early into the match. The back court duo, Patrik Maroš (nine goals) and Filip Mazurana (seven goals) were at the heart of the hosts' offensive line, as Spacva's lead kept on growing and even reached 10 goals (19:9) just before half-time, which eclipsed Valur's advantage from the first leg. The reigning EHF European Cup winners improved their performance after the break, stopping Spacva's attempts to further strengthen their lead and cutting it to six goals (22:16) in the 38th minute, but the determined hosts were not giving up and were adamant in their intentions to overcome Valur's advantage once again. Spacva set up a dramatic finish as they kept Valur goalless in the final six minutes of the match, while the hosts regained their eight-goal lead and entered the final 60 seconds with only a goal separating the sides in the tie. However, the hosts failed to score another goal in the last seconds and Valur ensured their progress to the EHF European League Men group phase by a single goal. Spacva's squad can definitely keep their heads held high as they gave it all to get back from the first leg's nine-goal deficit in the tie.

Limoges Handball (FRA) vs RK Trimo Trebnje (SLO) 35:24 (17:11)

Limoges win 63:56 on aggregate

The French club did not have the ideal start of the match as the Slovenian runners-up went into an early lead (2:0), but Trimo's advantage did not last long as the electric hosts quickly overturned the game, as well as the tie, in their favour. The goals for Limoges were coming in pretty easily, while Trimo's path to the opponents' net became more difficult with every passing minute. The decisive moment of the match came towards the final ten minutes of the first half, when Limoges began a scoring run and built a comfortable lead (17:11) to go into the break. In the second half, the hosts' advantage kept on growing as they displayed an offensive masterclass with five of their players – Yehia el Deraa, Hrstic, Turchenko, Yusuf and Ogando – scoring at least five goals each, which ultimately decided the winner. Limoges' biggest lead came in the 48th minute when the difference reached 14 goals (31:17) and it was clear that the visitors were all but defeated in France. Finally, the excellent goalkeeper Dino Slavic recorded 16 saves and noted a sky-high 43 per cent save efficiency, which allowed his teammates to fully express themselves at the other end of the court.

HC Izvidac (BIH) vs HCB Karvina (CZE) 32:26 (19:13)

HCB Karvina win 59:54 on aggregate

The Bosnian champions began the match powerfully by taking an early three-goal lead (3:0), signalling their motivation to get close to Karvina's advantage from the first leg. The visitors from Czechia were left surprised by Izvidac's quality performance, as the hosts' lead kept on growing and reached six (19:13) at the break, which turned on the alarm in Karvina's ranks as their 11-goal advantage from the first leg was cut in half. Izvidac's young squad did not stop there, as they even took an eight-goal (26:18) lead in the 44th minute, but Karvina used their rich experience to slow down the tempo of the match and narrowed the difference in the final ten minutes. In the end, the Bosnian club celebrated a comfortable win with Filip Odak scoring 10 goals for the hosts, but still, it was not enough to eclipse Karvina's victory from the first leg and the Czech side progressed to the EHF European League Men group phase, while Izvidac will continue their journey in the EHF European Cup this season.

VfL Gummersbach (GER) vs Mors-Thy Håndbold (DEN) 39:30 (20:16)

Gummersbach win 74:52 on aggregate

Even though the German club enjoyed a huge advantage in the tie after the first leg's win, the lively hosts did not want to let Mors even think about the possibility of mounting a comeback. VfL Gummersbach started the match by taking an eight-goal lead (13:5) in the 15th minute, which set the tone for the rest of the return leg. The visitors from Denmark narrowed down the difference ahead of the break, but Gummersbach still had everything under control. The Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson-led squad continued to torment Mors' goal in the second half, as only one player did not get on the scoresheet for the hosts, while Dominik Kuzmanovic made 10 saves between the posts and recorded an impressive 41 per cent save efficiency. Gummersbach celebrated another comfortable win in the end, with Teitur Örn Einarsson finishing as the match's top scorer (seven goals) and the German club successfully booking a ticket for the EHF European League's group phase.

FTC-Green Collect (HUN) vs Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) 34:32 (16:18)

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg win 77:61 on aggregate

After the poor performance in the first leg, the motivated hosts were determined to display an improved form on home court in front of their supporters in Budapest and FTC looked like a different team in the return leg. However, Bjerringbro-Silkeborg were the better side in the first half and they even held a four-goal lead (18:14) ahead of the break, which showed their undisputed quality once again. The Hungarian club increased the tempo in the second half and mounted a comeback in the 47th minute, when they took over the lead (27:26). Additionally, FTC successfully held onto the lead to record a close win, but still, Silkeborg's advantage from the first leg remained difficult to catch and the visitors booked their place in the EHF European League's group stage. Nikolaj Dueholm Læsø Christensen was the match's top scorer with 11 goals, just like in the first leg, while Mátyás Gyori scored nine goals for the defeated hosts.

Abanca Ademar Leon (ESP) vs ABC de BRAGA (POR) 31:27 (15:12)

Ademar Leon win 52:50 on aggregate

The ambitious hosts trailed a couple of goals in the tie against the Portuguese club and Ademar Leon were on a mission to erase Braga's lead as soon as possible at the start of the match. With that being said, the Spanish club took a four-goal lead (9:5) in the 18th minute, which already eclipsed the visitors' advantage from the first leg. However, Braga were not willing to let Ademar Leon rush into a bigger lead and they went to the break with only three goals separating the sides. In the second half, both teams were patiently planning as well as executing their attacks with so much at stake and the tie's outcome was hanging in the balance. With ten minutes to go on the clock, Ademar Leon made a huge step forward by finally extending their lead to four goals (26:22) again, which put them ahead in the tie. The visitors tried to get back into the match until the final whistle, but the Spanish club firmly stood their ground and celebrated a victory in the tie to progress to the EHF European League Men group phase. Ademar Leon's playmaker Rodrigo Perez Arce displayed an excellent performance as he scored 11 goals, playing a pivotal role in helping his team get the job done in the end.

Main photo © Limoges Handball