Strong second half earns Göppingen clear win

After an even first half, Frisch Auf Göppingen drew clear in the final 30 minutes of their home match against HC Midtjylland to win 31:23. The win was Göppingen's fourth in a row in the group phase.

• Göppingen top Group B with eight points from four matches. Midtjylland are still on two.
• Marcel Stiller scored seven goals for Göppingen, as did Espen Lie Hansen for Midtjylland.
• Göppingen are very close to the Finals, which they will be hosting in May.

Group B
Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER) vs HC Midtjylland (DEN) 31:23 (14:15)

Frisch Auf Göppingen took one step closer to the EHF Cup Finals, which they will be hosting this season, although the defending EHF Cup champions took until the second half to get going against the European debutants from Denmark.

Göppingen were still missing right back Jens Schöngarth to injury, while Midtjylland were without left wing Jørgen Ramussen and defender Kristian Gjessing but welcomed back playmaker Morten Slundt.

The first half was tight with Göppingen in the lead by a goal or two most of the time, but it was Midtjylland who took a one goal lead with them to half time.

In the second half, Göppingen would leave no doubt as to who was the stronger side. From the start of the half the hosts took back the lead, and they would continue to increase their lead throughout the half and finished with a clear lead of eight goals by the end.

Left wing Marcel Schiller scored seven goals for Göppingen, as did left back Espen Lie Hansen for Midtjylland.

“We had trouble in the defence in the first half, but thanks to great performances by Primoz Prost and Lars Kaufmann we turned the game around after the break," said Göppingen coach Magnus Andersson.

"It was a very good game in the first half, and it was a very tight game, and in the second half we had a lot of problems in one-on-one situations," said Mdtjylland coach Morten Secher.