GROUP C REVIEW: The three-time EHF Cup winners from Germany came from behind against Ademar Leon to keep their clean record with a 31:27 win, leaving the Spanish side on zero points
Second-half comeback gives Magdeburg second win
SC Magdeburg were made to fight hard in their second Men’s EHF Cup group phase match, but they came away with a victory over Abanca Ademar Leon on Wednesday night, 31:27.
Main player for Magdeburg was Michael Damgaard with nine goals, while hosts Ademar Leon had too many mistakes to have a chance.
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Michael Damgaard led with nine goals for Magdeburg, David Fernandez scored eight for Leon
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Magdeburg were behind at half-time but an 8:2 run early in the second half turned the tide
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Magdeburg lead group C with the maximum four points while Leon remain on zero
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Leon face two crucial matches with Nantes while Magdeburg next meet Velenje twice
GROUP C
Abanca Ademar Leon (ESP) vs SC Magdeburg (GER) 27:31 (14:12)
Leon had announced “another magic night” in their arena when hosting Magdeburg, but in the end the Spanish side was too weak in attack to celebrate a party on Wednesday night.
After the 34:28 opening defeat at Nantes, the team of head coach Manolo Cadenas lost their second group match, even though the result was closer this time.
On the other hand, Magdeburg won their second straight match but also had a huge number of turnovers and missed passes.
Fortunes turned quickly in the first half as Leon were up by 2:0, down by 6:2, but up again by 14:12 at the break.
However, when the game resumed, Magdeburg had their strongest period, scoring a 8:2 series within 10 minutes to build a four-goal lead again (20:16).
Two time-outs from Cadenas did not work immediately. But when Magdeburg felt too secure and started to pile up more and more mistakes in attack, Leon got closer again, to 27:25.
But Michael Damgaard decided the encounter with his ninth goal for 28:25 four minutes before the end, followed by another Leon turnover and the 29:25 by Daniel Petterson.
TEXT:
Björn Pazen / ew