Only one home win on Saturday

Only one home team managed to win in the weekend of the Men’s EHF Cup Group Phase on Saturday.

In Group D, MT Melsungen defeated Eskilstuna Guif 31:27 on a day with full house for the German teams, as Füchse Berlin won 26:20 away against Futebol Clube do Porto in Group C.

In Group A, Pfadi Winterthur returned to Switzerland with a 27:23 win against Norwegian champions Haslum Handballklubb, while Team Tvis Holstebro were not able to hold on to a five-goal lead away against Fraikin BM Granolles, but had to be content with a 28:28 draw in Group B.

Men’s EHF Cup Group A
Haslum Handballklubb (NOR) vs Pfadi Winterthur (SUI) 23:27 (12:13)

11 goals from Winterthur´s German right back Julian Krieg played an important part as the Swiss team took a four- goal win in Norway Saturday afternoon.

Haslum were leading by three goals twice, 3:0 and 11:8, but both times, Winterthur managed to catch up and go one goal ahead at half-time.

The second half belonged to the visitors, though, as Winterthur were leading by four or five goals for most of the period, before securing the win with comfort.

Group B
Fraikin BM Granollers (ESP) vs Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 28:28 (12:17)

Team Tvis Holstebro were leading by five goals at many stages in the away game in Spain, including half-time, but in the end, the Danish team should consider themselves lucky to get one point, as Granollers were leading in the last minute.

After an even start, Granollers had the upper hand for the middle part of the second half, leading by two goals.

However, Holstebro was the first team to get their defence working, and this meant that the visitors could break away from their opponents towards half-time and go five goals ahead after the first 30 minutes.

Holstebro started the second half with several further five-goal leads, but around the middle of the half the home team managed to come back into the game, drawing level at 23:23 and soon after a 27:24 lead with five minutes left.

The visitors managed to come back once again at 27:27, though, and after a tight finish, the teams shared the points.

Group C
Futebol Clube do Porto (POR) vs Füchse Berlin (GER) 20:26 (12:14)

Füchse only had trouble with Porto for about 20 minutes, but from then on the EHF Cup Finals hosts were in control.

An active defence and patient attacking play enabled Porto to cause Füchse certain problems during the first 20 minutes.

The hosts lead by three goals in the early stages, before Berlin adjusted themselves to their opponents and turn the tables.

In the last ten minutes of the first half, it was Füchse’s turn to lead by three, before two goals separated the teams at half-time.

In the second half, the aggressive Porto defence did not really cause Füchse much trouble, and the visitors could increase their lead to seven goals late on, before finally winning by six.

Group D
MT Melsungen (GER) vs Eskilstuna Guif (SWE) 31:27 (16:14)

Melsungen’s control of tha match was not justified by scoreboard. The German side were more dominant than the four win suggests.

With six minutes left, the hosts were leading by eight goals, before the guests scored a few consolation goals and add respectability to the results.

Melsungen had the upper hand throughout the first half but Eskilstuna were never far behind them.

The hosts managed to open up a three-goal lead at one stage, but that was as far ahead as they got. The Swedes kept bouncing back and trailed by two going into the dressing rooms.

Eskilstuna were still able to keep Melsungen on a relatively short leash at the beginning of the second half, but as the Bundesliga team went from 18:17 to 24:17 with less than a quarter of an hour left to play, the match was decided.

Melsungen even stretched the lead to eight goals at 30:22, and a fine Swedish finish with five goals in a row was far from enough to change the outcome of the match.