GOG win, Viborg leave Europe with a defeat

GOG knock Bregenz out of Europe

GOG Svendborg TGI were sure to go on to the Main Round of the Champions League on second position from Group D even before their last match. Nevertheless, the Danish champions were able to play with motivation to end their group matches with a 33-29 home win over A1 Bregenz in front of 860 spectators in Gudmehallen.

Unlike GOG, Bregenz had a lot to play for as a draw would have meant third place and a Cup Winners’ Cup pass.

And the Austrian champions fought for their chance throughout most of the first half and they were leading by 3 goals several times.

However, GOG managed to take control before the break and they were leading 15-12 at half time.

“Revenge”

GOG´s only defeat in the group phase was a 32-26 in Bregenz. The Danes to revenge on Sunday afternoon in Gudme, as GOG increased their lead in the second half. 25-17 was the biggest difference, but Bregenz managed to crawl a little closer towards the end. There was little doubt about the final result, however.

“We were eager to take revenge for the defeat in Bregenz and to end our group matches in style. I think the most significant difference respect to our game in Austria was that we kept Roland Schlinger better under control this time,” said GOG´s Greenland international, Jacob Larsen, after the match.

Peter Svensson was GOG´s top scorer with 6 goals, while Roland Schlinger scored 10 for Bregenz.

Portland San Antonio won their group with 10 points, in front of GOG with 8. Slovakian champions, Tatran Presov, and Bregenz finished with 3 points, but Presov had a better result from the direct encounters against the Austrians.

Viborg leave Europe with big defeat

Russian champions Chehovskie Medvedi ended their campaign in Group E with a convincing 36-27 win at home against Danish Champions League debutants Viborg HK. The match had no real importance for Medvedi as they were already sure to go on ranked 2 after HSV Hamburg. Viborg, on the other hand, still had a chance to qualify for the Last 16 of the Cup Winners Cup with a draw in Russia. The Danes were never even near to such an achievement, though.

Russian dominance for 40 minutes

After the equal first 20 minutes (12-12), the 3,000 spectators in Chekhov near Moscow saw the home team dominating for the last 40 minutes. Medvedi were leading 19-13 at half time and they were already 12 goals up early in the second half. Viborg then managed to reduce the gap to 9 goals at the end.

“We were able to follow Medvedi until we were struck by new injuries after some 20 minutes. First Morten Bjerre and then Gábor Császár had to leave the court with injuries and they couldn’t come back.

“With these injuries – on top of all the other injuries we had – there was not much we could do. We even had to use our usual pivot, Henrik Dreyer, as playmaker,” Viborg’s coach, Søren Hildebrand told Eurohandball.com after the match.

The result means that Chehovskie Medvedi finish second in Group E with 9 points, while Viborg, who reached the Champions League from the Qualification Tournament, finish last with 2 points.