Montpellier and Pays d’Aix defeated their respective opponents in the 1st leg of the French Championships quarterfinals. Still, everything is still open.
Only a goal separated the rivals at the end of each game. Montpellier defeated Noisy ( 12:11), while Pays d’Aix recorded a 13:12 over Tourcoing.
Noisy and Tourcoing will be the hosts in the return leg.
2021/22 French League, playoffs, quarterfinals (best of two)
1st leg
Montpellier – Noisy-le-Sec 11:10 (3:3, 3:2,2:2, 3:3)
Pays d’Aix – Tourcoing 13:12 (5:4, 4:2, 1:3, 3:3)
Pays d’Aix: Khasz 4, Bakircilar 3, Popadic 2, Giga 2, Grgurevic 1, Dino 1.
EN Tourcoing: Gagulic 3, Kujacic 3, Randjic 2, Canonne 2, Krisman 1, Rocchietta 1.
A week ago, Noisy-le-Sec defeated Montpellier 12:9 in the last round of the regular season. The first match of the quarterfinals, played in the same pool, was an even contest. It turned out that the second quarter (3:2) made a small difference between the teams – 11:10.
Both teams had ups and downs in the match Pays d’Aix – Tourcoing. The teams were running neck and neck until 4:4. Then, Pays d’Aix produced a 4:0 series and jumped to 8:4 (13th minute). The hosts were keeping a 4-goal lead until 10:6. But, Tourcoing took control afterward and managed to equalize in the middle of the fourth quarter (11:11). Montenegrin Nikola Giga responded with two goals and Aix earned a 13:11 advantage with 62 seconds to go. Twenty seconds after, Gagulic scored for 12:13 and closed the match.
Marseille and Strasbourg advanced to the semifinals directly. Marseille will play against the winner of the duel Tourcoing – Pays d’Aix. Strasbourg waits for the outcome of the match Noisy – Montpellier.
