Almost all eight spots in the Men’s Challenger Cup have been booked after three days of the qualifications.
Group A (Porto, Portugal)
Vitoria Sport Clube – Apoel Nicosia 18:14 (5:1, 3:2, 3:6, 7:5)
Clube Fluvial Portuense – Triglav Kranj 11:10 (4:4, 3:1, 3:3, 1:2)
Fluvial caused a surprise by beating Triglav Kranj 11:10, which was considered the favorite in the group. The second place will be decided after the Portuguese derby, Vitoria – Fluvial. Triglav, which finished the tournament, beat Vitoria by two goals (10:8).
Standings: 1. Kreuzlingen (SUI) 9 (3), 2. Fluvial (POR) 6 (3), 3. Triglav (SVN) 6 (4), 4. Vitoria (POR) 3 (3), 5. Apoel Nicosia (CYP) 0 (3).
Group B (Mouscron, Belgium)
Carouge Natation – City of Manchester 11:10 (2:4, 4:1, 2:2, 3:3)
Royal Dauphins Mouscronnois – Banja Luka 25:7 (8:0, 6:2, 4:3, 7:2)
Carouge Natation edged out Manchester in a thrilling encounter and booked the ticket for the quarterfinals. Tomorrow, the Swiss and host Royal Dauphins will meet in a match that will determine the group winner.
Standings: 1. Carouge (SUI) 9 (3), 2. Dauphins (BEL) 9 (3), 3. Manchester 3 (3), 4. ODTU 3 (3), 5. Banja Luka 0 (4)
Group C (Istanbul, Turkey)
Galatasaray – Polytechnic WP Club 17:8 (3:1, 6:1, 3:3, 5:3)
KVP Novaky – Sporting Clube de Portugal 15:6 (2:1, 5:0, 4:1, 4:4)
Galatasaray and KVP Novaky proved too strong for Polytechnic and Sporting, respectively, and will battle for the top spot tomorrow.
Standings: 1. Galatasaray (TUR) 6 (2), 2. KVP Novaky 6 (2), 3. Polytechnic WPC 0 (2), 3. Sporting (POR) 0 (2).
Group D (Valetta, Malta)
ENKA Sport Club – Cetus Espoo 22:1 (4:0, 6:1,7:0, 5:0)
KVT Komodor – EVK Zaibas 5:19 (0:4, 1:3, 3:4, 1:8)
EVK Zaibas – ENKA Sport Club 8:11 (1:4, 1:3, 3:3, 3:1)
Valetta – Cetus Espoo 21:5 (5:1, 6:0, 5:1, 5:3)
EVK Zaibas was defeated by ENKA (8:11) in the derby, but it mathematically qualified for the quarterfinals and secured at least 2nd place. Tomorrow, Valetta and ENKA will face off. In the case of a possible three-way tie (ENKA, EVK and Valetta), EVK will take 2nd place because it defeated Valetta 15:11.
Valetta and ENKA will play each other tomorrow. Valetta needs a convincing win to overtake ENKA and EVK, which are in 1st and 2nd place after Day 3.
Standings: 1. ENKA (TUR) 9 (3), 2. EVK Zaibas (LTU) 9 (4), 3. Valetta (MLT) 6 (3), 4. Cetus Espoo 0 (3), 5. KVT Komodor (BUL) 0 (3).
More articles about the Challenger Cup
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