Final eight teams ready for Last 16
The Last 16 of the Men's Challenge Cup completed its line-up this weekend, as the last eight teams were named.
Seven of the teams were found after double headers, and ACH Potaissa Turda, who reached the final last season, are still on track to progress again after eliminating Bosnina KH Trepca with two big wins Saturday and Sunday.
Despite playing away, Turda won the first leg in Mitrovica 35:19. On Sunday the Romanian side confirmed their Last 16 berth with a 40:30 win.
For MSK Povazska Bystrica, a 34:26 win in the first of the weekend's two home games against HC Lovcen turned out to be enough to get a round further.
A total of 12 goals from their Czech right back Radim Chudoba were a great help to Povazska Bystrica. A 24:24 draw in the second leg was more than enough for the Last 16 ticket.
Bergen happy to win away
FyllingenBergen is the only Norwegian men's team in the Challenge Cup after this weekend. The team obviously did not mind playing their double-header against Bosnia's HC Vogosca Poljine Hills on away ground.
After a narrow 35:33 win in the first match on Saturday evening, Fyllingen left no doubt on Sunday afternoon. The visitors were leading all the way and cruised into the Last 16 with a 30:21 win.
Göztepe SK were already close to the next round after winning the first leg of their double header at home against Greek side A. C. PAOK 35:6.
Therefore, the Turkish hosts will not have been too sad about losing the second leg 29:28, as their Last 16 berth was never in danger.
Berchem and Eurofarm progress
HC Berchem from Luxembourg are also ready for another round in the tournament. On home ground, they defeated Serbian ORK Samot 65 26:21 on Saturday and again 33:24 on Sunday.
The tie between HC Eurofarm Rabotnik from FYR Macedonia and “Granitas-Karys” Kaunas from Lithuania was no double-header, as the first leg took place last weekend.
Eurofarm Rabotnik were defending a 28:24 win from their home game, but that turned out to be more than enough for the Macedonian side when they visited Lithuania's second-largest city this weekend.
Eurofarm won again, with the scoreboard showing a 29:23 win for the visitors at the buzzer.
TEXT:
Peter Bruun/jh