ROUND REVIEW: Big wins for Wacker Thun in this weekend’s only double header in the Challenge Cup
No trouble for Thun and St. Petersburg
The last quarter-finalists in the Men’s Challenge Cup were found this weekend, where Wacker Thun took a clear win in the only double header, while a four-goal lead turned out to be more than enough for St. Petersburg HC ahead of their away match in Turkey.
A 24:23 away win against AO Poseidon Loutrakiou turned out to be enough for KV Sasja HC.
As the Greek team visited Belgium for the second leg, Sasja did not manage to repeat the win, but got a 22:22 draw, which sends the Belgian team to the quarter-finals with the narrowest possible difference.
FIQAS Aalsmeer from the Netherlands had an even more reassuring lead from their away game against Handball Esch from Luxembourg.
Aalsmeer won the first leg 30:26, and in the second match, their quarter-final berth was never in danger.
After leading 12:10 at half-time, Aalsmeer won 25:22 and qualified for the quarters with a seven goal aggregate win.
Wacker Thun had no trouble reaching the quarter-final, as they won the double header at home against Handball Team Celik this weekend clearly.
The Swiss team made things clear already in the first match which they won 42:27, and the Bosnian visitors were not able to offer much more resistance in the second leg, which Wacker won as big, 41:28.
St. Petersburgh HC might be a bit anxious before their away game against B.B. Ankara Spor.
The Russian side won the first match at home 30:26, and a four-goal lead was not much to travel to Turkey with.
As things turned out, however, St, Petersburg had nothing to worry about.
After an equal first half, which ended 11:10 for St. Petersburg, the visitors left no doubt in anyone’s mind after the break, winning clearly 31:23 and booking the ticket for the quarter-final without problems.
TEXT:
Peter Bruun / bc