Several very thrilling games have been played in the evening session of Day 3 of the Euro League qualifications.
The first two tickets for the quarterfinals have already been booked.
Kinef Kirishi edged out Ferencvaros (15:14) and cemented 1st place in Group B (Verona). Olympiacos also qualified for the quarterfinals, although it suffered a 12:13 loss to SIS Roma (Group C).
One of this evening’s big games was played in Budapest (Group A), where UVSE beat Dynamo Uralochka (16:14). Sabadell was better than Dunaujvaros (14:11) in the first game in Group D.
Day 3 (evening session) – Group A: Lille – Sant Andreu 10:5, UVSE – Dynamo 16:14; Group B: Mataro – Verona 15:3, Kinef – Ferencvaros 15:14; Group C: Plebiscito – BVSC 11:9, SIS Roma – Olympiacos 13:12 ; Group D: Dunaujvaros – Sabadell 11:14.
2020/21 LEN Euro League Qualifications, Day 2, evening session
Group A (Budapest)
Lille – Sant Andreu 10:5 (3:2, 1:1, 4:1, 2:1)
Lille UC: Katsimpri 3, Hardy 2, Kochetova 2, Ouchache 1, Van de Velde 1, Kordonskaia 1.
Sant Andreu: Guiral 2, Mora 2, Voorvelt 1.
UVSE – Dynamo 16:14 (4:3, 4:4, 3:6, 5:1)
UVSE Hunguest Hotel: Keszthelyi-Nagy 5, Rybanska 4, Parkes 3, Abel-Antal 2, Szucs 1, Farago 1.
Dynamo Uralochka: Zelentsova 4, Sharafutdinova 3, Panfilova 3, Popova 2, Karimova 1, Lapteva 1.
UVSE made a big step towards the quarterfinals after defeating Dynamo Uralochka in the derby of the day. It was a very exciting game, with a lot of twists and turns. UVSE led 5:3 early in the second quarter, but Dynamo answered with three goals and went in front (6:5) midway through the second quarter. Still, the home team regained a lead before the middle break (8:7). The Hungarians led 11:10 in the 20th minute. However, the Russians took control after that and netted four straight goals. In the 25th minute, Dynamo had a 3-goal advantage (14:11). But, UVSE, led by Rita Keszthelyi, struck back with four goals within five and a half minutes and grabbed a 15:14 lead with 01:51 remaining on the clock. Dynamo’s goalkeeper joined the teammates in the attack in the Russians’ last possession. But, the Russians failed to equalize from 7 on 6. Four seconds before the end, Rita Keszthelyi sent the ball into the unguarded net from a long-distance shot for the final score.
Lille earned its first win and saved the chance to reach the quarterfinals.
1 UVSE (HUN) 2 – 6
2 Orizzonte (ITA) 1 – 3
3 Dynamo (RUS) 2 – 3
4 Lille (FRA) 2 – 3
5 Sant Andreu (ESP) 3 – 0
Group B (Verona)
Mataro – CSS Verona 15:3 (5:0, 3:0, 5:0, 2:3)
Mataro: Jackovich 3, Bonamusa 3, A. Espar 3, Bernabe 1, Gual 1, Sevenich 1, Bach 1, Nogue 1, Aznar 1.
Vetrocar CSS Verona: Zanetta 2, Bianconi 1.
Kinef Kirishi – Ferencvaros 15:14(2:3, 4:5, 5:3, 4:3)
Kinef-Surgutneftegas Kirishi: Ivanova 5, Markoch 3, Soboleva 3, Simanovich 2, Ryzhkova 1, Zubkova 1.
Ferencvaros Telekom: Valyi 5, Kovesdi 2, Illes 2, Toth-Csabai 2, Valentin 1, Petik 1, Mate 1
Mataro taught a lesson to CSS Verona and recorded a win easier than expected. Mataro built a 13:0 advantage before Verona scored its first goal in the 26th minute.
Kinef Kirishi was a favorite in the last match of the day in this group, but Ferencvaros proved that it had made significant progress in the last year and a half and that it could battle against the best European teams. Ferencvaros dictated the pace in the first three quarters and was always ahead. Still, Kinef kept up with the Hungarians, and the distance between the sides was never larger than two goals. A minute before the end of the third period, Ferencvaros led 11:9, but Kinef equalized by scoring two goals in the last 43 seconds of this quarter (11:11). The Russians opened the fourth period with a goal for 12:11. After that, the “exchange” of goals started. Kinef was gaining a one-goal lead (12:11, 13:12, 14:13), but Ferencvaros leveled the score three times. Evgenia Soboleva found the net for 15:14 with 34 seconds to go. After that, Kinef managed to defend themselves with a man-down, recorded an important win, and earned a quarterfinal ticket.
Kinef mathematically secured 1st place because it beat both Spanish sides Mataro and Mediterrani. None of the rivals can catch up to the Russians.
1 Kinef (RUS) 3 – 9
2 Mataro (ESP) 3 – 6
3 Mediterrani (ESP) 2 – 3
4 Ferencvaros (HUN) 2 – 0
5 CSS Verona (ITA) 2 – 0
Group C (Rome)
Plebiscito Padova – BVSC 11:9 (1:3, 2:2, 5:2, 3:2)
Plebiscito Padova:Gottardo 2, Queirolo 2, Ranalli 2, Centanni 2, Savioli 1, Casson 1, Cocchiere 1.
BVSC Zuglo: Gemes 3, Farkas 2, Leimeter 2, Kele 1, N. Alaksza 1.
SIS Roma – Olympiacos 13:12 (2:5, 5:3, 4:2, 2:2)
Lifebrain SIS Roma: Avegno 4, Giustini 3, Tabani 3, Galardi 2, Storai 1.
Olympiacos: M. Plevritou 3, Tsoukala 3, Avramidou 2, V. Plevritou 2, Benekou 1, Eleftheriadou 1.
Olympiacos Piraeus finished its appearance at the tournament in Rome with a 12:13 loss to the home team. But, the Greeks advanced to the quarterfinals. In the previous two matches, Olympiacos defeated Plebiscito 10:7 and BVSC (11:4). Whatever happens in the remaining games, Olympiacos will be among the top two teams in the group. Only one of the Italian clubs can finish the tournament ahead of Olympiacos. If three teams (Olympiacos, SIS Roma, and Plebiscito) finish the tournament with 9 points each, Olympiacos will be 1st or 2nd in the circle of these three teams, depending on the goal-difference in the mini-table of mutual encounters. Everything will be clear on Sunday, after the Italian derby Roma-Plebiscito.
SIS Roma earned a 2:1 lead, but Olympiacos responded with four consecutive goals and went up 5:2 by the end of the first quarter. The Greeks had a 3-goal advantage in the second period, too (6:3, 7:4), but SIS Roma managed to come back. The Italians entered the final quarter with an 11:10 advantage. Olympiacos regained a lead in the 30th minute (12:11). Still, SIS Roma scored two goals in the final two minutes and earned a 13:12 advantage. Olympiacos had a chance to equalize with a man-up in the last possession, but SIS kept all three points.
Plebiscito produced a great comeback to defeat BVSC. The Hungarians had a 3-goal advantage (4:1) after ten minutes of play. Early in the third period, BVSC led 6:3. However, by the end of this quarter, Plebiscito turned around the three-goal deficit to an 8:7 lead, and managed to double the advantage during the final eight minutes.
1 Olympiacos (GRE) 4 – 9
2 SIS Roma (ITA) 2 – 6
3 Plebiscito Padova (ITA) 3 – 6
4 BVSC (HUN) 3 – 3
5 Olympic Nice (FRA) 4 – 0
*Olympic Nice has been disqualified and all matches of the French team have been registered by a technical score (0:10).
Group D (Verona)
Dunaujvaros – Sabadell 11:14 (2:5, 2:3, 2:3, 5:3)
Dunaujvaros: Szilagyi 2, Horvath 2, Mahieu 2, Garda 2, Gurisatti 1, Ziegler 1, Szellak 1.
Sabadell: Kenuning 3, M.Ortiz 2, Van der Sloot 2, Cordobes 2, Forca 2, Gonzalez 2, Morell 1.
European champion Sabadell took the points in the first of three derbies in Group D. The Spaniards opened the match in style. They had a 4:0 lead already in the 5th minute. Sabadell controlled the game. Deep into the third period, Sabadell went up 11:5. Dunaujvaros played better in the final quarter, and reduced the gap to two (11:13). But, it happened too late – 42 seconds before the final buzzer. After that, Morell scored a goal with a power-play advantage for the final score.
Tomorrow, Sabadell will play against Vouliagmeni, while Dunaujvaros and Vouliagmeni will face off on Sunday.
1 Sabadell (ESP) 1 – 3
2 Dunaujvaros (HUN) 1 – 0
3 Vouliagmeni (GRE) –
Day 3 (February 6)
Group A (Budapest)
Dynamo Uralochka – Ekipe Orizzonte (11:00)
Lille – Dynamo Uralochka (17:00)
UVSE – Ekipe Orizzonte (19:00)
Group B (Verona)
Mataro – Mediterrani (18:00)
Ferencvaros – CSS Verona (20:00)
Group C (Rome – Ostia)
Olympiacos – Olympic Nice 10:0 (technical score)
SIS Roma – BVSC (18:00)
Group D (Verona)
Vouliagmeni – Sabadell (16:00)
