Goal show from Cruz virtually sends Milaneza to quarter-finals

With no fewer than 14 goals, centre back Pedro Cruz played his part in Aguas Santas-Milaneza winning 41:22 in the first leg of their Last 16 tie against KH BESA Famiglia from Kosovo in the Men´s EHF Challenge Cup.

Already at half time, the 1,042 spectators in the Associacao Atlética in Aguas Santas saw the Portuguese home team up 21:8 and the home team continued to dominate after the break making the return match in Kosovo on Saturday 22 February almost a formality.

When it came to scoring goals, Milos Dragas, left back by Serbian team RK Metaloplastika Sabac was almost able to keep up with Cruz this weekend.

Dragas scored 13 times, as 2,000 spectators in Sabac saw their local heroes win 26:22 and give themselves a decent chance ahead of the away game against Croatian HRK “Karlovac” on Saturday.

However, the right arm on Macedonian left back Lazo Majnov was also hot, as 10 goals from him helped his Romanian team HC Odorhei to a 23:22 away win against Polish team Górnik Zabrze – a result which obviously gives Odorhei a great chance to proceed to the quarter-finals when the teams meet again in Romania on Sunday.

Cocks from Finland are practically in the quarter-final after a 31:20 win in Bulgaria against HC Spartak, as are ZTR Zaporozhye, after the Ukrainians could travel home from Greece with a 27:17 win over A. C. Doukas.

The quarter-final is also within reach for KS “Azoty-Pulawy”, after the Polish team took a 36:29 win with them home from the match in Turkey against Nilüfer BK.

The two remaining ties, HC Victory Regia Minsk (BLR) vs IK Sävehof (SWE) and United HC Tongeren (BEL) vs SPE Strovolos (CYP) are being played as doubleheaders in the coming weekend.