Primorac, Hannover, Telimar and Panionios take last spots in Euro Cup Top 16

Panionios, Telimar, Primorac, and Waspo98 Hannover secured the last four berths for the LEN Euro Cup Group Stage,

These teams won crucial games on the last competition days in the qualifications and joined the 12 previously qualified teams. In Athens,

Panionios defeated OSC Budapest (14:11) in a decisive match for 2nd place in Group E (Athens).

Telimar caused a small surprise by beating Savona (12:10) in the Italian derby in Duisburg (Group F) and climbed atop the table. Savona, a favorite of the tournament and the finalist of the 2023 Euro Cup, qualified for the next stage from 2nd place.

In the last round of Group H in Kotor, the expected results were produced. Primorac defeated Peristeri (12:6) to maintain the top spot, while Waspo Hannover stayed in 2nd place after beating Panathinaikos 14:11.

The most exciting game today was a Hungarian derby. Vasas and BVSC faced off in the battle for 1st place in the group in Budapest. Vasas won 16:15.

Italy will have four teams in the group phase, and Hungary three. Croatia and Greece will be represented by two clubs each. Serbia, France, Spain, Montenegro and Germany will have one club each in the Top 16.

The draw for the group phase (four groups of four) should take place next week.

Teams qualified for the next stage

Group winners: Sabac (Serbia), Vasas (Hungary), Trieste (Italy), Primorje (Croatia), Honved (Hungary), Telimar Palermo (Italy), Barcelona (Spain), Primorac Kotor (Montenegro)

2nd-placed teams: Ortigia (Italy), BVSC (Hungary), Tourcoing (France), Solaris (Croatia), Panionios (Greece), Savona (Italy),Apollon Smyrnis (Greece), Waspo 98 Hannover (Germany).

*The 1st-placed teams will be in one, and the second-placed in the other pot of the draw.

2023/24 LEN Euro Cup, Qualifications, Day 4

Group A (Sabac), Round 5

Dinamo Bucharest – Noisy-le-Sec 8:17 (2:3, 3:5, 1:4, 2:5)
Dinamo Bucharest: Radu 3, Piriianu 2, Lutescu 1, Pandelea 1, Jiganea 1.
Noisy-le-Sec: Do Carmo 4, Caumette 3, Matkovic 3, Beteille 2, Saudadier 1, Ondo Methogo 1, Laces 1, Bowen 1, V.Rasovic 1.

Sabac – Valis 14:5 (2:1, 2:0, 4:3, 6:1)
Sabac Elixir: Krug 3, Barac 2, Macic 2, Novakovic 2, Korac 2, Maras 1, Stojanovic 1.
Valis Vega: Baucalo 1, Borovcanin 1, Kasum 1, Kovacevic 1, Brkic 1.

Ortigia bye

Sabac secured 1st, and Ortigia 2nd place in Group A before the last round. Therefore, today’s matches had no big importance, but the favorites made no mistake.

Noisy-le-Sec confirmed 3rd place with a big victory over Dinamo Bucharest. The Parisians, who played with 12 players (center-forward Krapic missed the match), earned a 2:0 goal advantage in the first two minutes. Noisy led throughout the game, increasing the margin to nine until the end.

Sabac kept a perfect record, beating Valis in the Serbian derby. The visitors scored an opening goal already in the first minute from a penalty shot. However, Sabac tightened its defense after that and earned a 4:1 lead by halftime. The hosts didn’t slow until the end, which resulted in a very convincing 14:5 win.

Final standings: 1. Sabac 12 pts (4 games), 2. Ortigia 9 pts (4 games), 3. Noisy 6 (4), 4. Valis 3 (4), 5. Dinamo Bucharest 0 (4).

Group B (Budapest), Round 3

Mataro – Ludwigsburg 12:9 (3:1, 5:2, 3:2, 1:4)
Mataro:Gil 4, Castro 4, Ivaylov Patchaliev 1, Flaque 1, Rodriguez 1, Negus 1.
Ludwigsnurg 08: Kutchuashvili 4, Bauer 2, Bozic 1, Filo 1, Blazevic 1.

BVSC – Vasas 15:16 (3:2, 3:4, 2:5, 7:5)
BVSC Zuglo: Tatrai 7, E.Csacsovszky 5, Kovacs 2, Csapo 1.
A-Hid Vasas Plaket: S.Rasovic 5, Randjelovic 4, Burian 2, Konarik 2, Dedovic 1, Bedo 1.

The Hungarian derby was a close battle. Vasas, the reigning LEN Euro Cup champion, earned three points and confirmed 1st place in a 31-goal match, thanks to a last-gasp goal. BVSC, the host of the tournament, started better and had a 2-goal lead twice in the first half (3:1, 6:4) and once in the third period (8:6). Vasas leveled several times, but didn’t go ahead before the middle of the third quarter. After the hosts’ eighth goal, Vasas produced a 5:0 run and entered the final quarter leading 11:8. But, BVSC didn’t say its last wordThe home side caught up with Vasas at the finish of a high-scoring fourth period– 14:14. Randjelovic gave Vasas a 15:14 lead with 57 seconds left on the clock. Just 18 seconds before the end, Erik Csacovszky converted a man-up and equalized (15:15). Vasas had a the last attack and a 6 on 5 in the last five seconds. Strahinja Rasovic beat the buzzer and set the final score in the very last second.

Three quarters were enough for Mataro to secure the victory over Ludwigsburg.

Final standings: 1. Vasas 9 (3), 2. BVSC 6 (3), 3. Mataro 3 (3), 4. Ludwigsburg 0 (3)

Group C (Tourcoing), Round 3

Szolnok – Pays d’Aix 22:10 (3:2, 9:1, 6:4, 4:3)
Szolnok Dozsa Praktiker: Peto 6, Zs. Vismeg 3, Schmolcz 3, Vamosi 3, Ionescu 2, Szeghalmi 2, Pasztor 2, D.Jansik 1.
Pays d’Aix:Drahe 5, Gorria 2, Beteille 2, Volant 1.

Tourcoing – Trieste 11:12 (2:3, 5:4, 1:3, 3:2)
Tourcoing: Kujacic 4, Marzouki 3, Canonne 2, Colodrovschi 1, Milicic 1.
Trieste: Petronio 2, M.Vrlic 2, Valentino 2, Razzi 2, Marziali 2, Podgornik, Mladossich 1.

It was a closely contested match between Trieste and Tourcoing for the top spot. Both teams had their ups and downs throughout the game. The first half had a few twists and turns, and the teams were tied at 7:7 at the middle break. Trieste took a two-goal lead in the third quarter (10:8), but the hosts managed to reduce the deficit to one three times during the final quarter. Although the French came close to equalizing seventy seconds from the end (10:11), they failed, and Trieste maintained the top spot.

Szolnok, the winner of the LEN Euro Cup in 2021, ended its European season in the qualifications and with a comfortable 22:10 victory over Pays d’Aix. The Hungarians dominated the game, with a 9:1 storming in the second quarter.

Final standings: 1. Trieste 9 (3), 2. Tourcoing 6 (3), 3. Szolnok 3 (3), 4. Pays d’Aix 0 (3).

Group D (Rijeka), Round 3

Solaris – Primorje 6:20 (2:5, 1:7, 2:4, 1:4)
Solaris: Petkovic 2, Brajkovic 1, R.Akrap 1, D.Akrap 1, Bulat 1.
Primorje EB: Cubranic 6, Te Riele 3, Babic 3, Tonicic 2, Brubnjak 2, Da. Brguljan 2, G.Burburan 1, Paparic 1.

Oradea – Radnicki 9:7 (2:3, 1:2, 5:2, 1:0)
CSM Oradea: Dragomirescu 2, Gardasevic 2, Belenyesi 1, Gheorghe 1, Vancsik 1, Czenk 1, Remes 1.
SPD Radnicki: Pljevancic 3, N.Stanojevic 2, Dadvani 1, Vickovic 1.

Primorje secured 1st place with a convincing 20-6 victory over Solaris in the Croatian derby. While Primorje was the favorite in this game, the score doesn’t necessarily reflect the difference in quality between the two sides. It’s possible that Solaris was tired from their surprising win over Radnicki the previous day, while Primorje played their best from the first until the last minute and deserved the win.

In the other match, both teams lacked motivation, as they were already out of contention for the next phase. However, Radnicki is likely to be more disappointed with the result. Still, the Serbs led 5:2 in the first half but lost their rhythm in the second half, allowing Oradea to come back and deserve a consolation win.

Final standings: 1. Primorje 9 (3), 2. Solaris 6 (3), 3. Oradea 3 (3), 4. Radnicki 0 (3)

Group E (Athens), Round 5

Honved – Tenerife 18:9 (3:3, 6:2, 7:2, 2:2)
EPS Honved: Zs. Ekler 5, B.Ekler 4, B.Hessels 3, Szepfalvi 2, Baksa 1, Vadovics 1, Sugar 1, Gregor 1.
Tenerife Echeyde: Gonzalez 3, Espinosa 3, Molthen 1, Prunell 1, Soriano 1.

Panionios – OSC Budapest 14:11 (5:4, 2:3, 4:1, 3:3)
Panionios: Moskov 5, Gounas 4, Gkiouvetsis 2, Ukropina 2, Kopeliadis 1.
OSC Budapest: Vin.Vigvari 5, Rossi 3, Szalai 2, Toth 1.

White Sharks Hannover bye

Honved, which secured the top spot on Saturday, finished the tournament with a perfect record. Brothers Ekler was Honved’s power engine in the big win over Tenerife, like in the previous three games. Zsombor scored five, and Bendeguz added four this time.

Panionios and OSC Budapest faced off in a direct duel for 2nd place. The lead was constantly changing the side in the first half. Only once a team had a 2-goal lead. Early in the second half, Gkiouvetsis scored for 6:4 from a 6 on 5. OSC responded strongly – with three goals in 01:31 minutes and went ahead – 7:6. But, it turned out that it was the Hungarians’ last lead in the match. Panionios answer to OSC’s 3:0 series was much stronger. The hosts kept OSC goalless for over 12 minutes while scoring five goals  and building an 11:7 advantage. OSC found the net for the first time in the second half only 32 seconds before the last break (8 d building an 11:7 advantage. OSC found the net for the first time in the second half only 32 seconds before the last break (8:11). The Budapest-based team reduced the deficit to two goals twice in the fourth quarter (9:11 and 11:13), but nothing more. Panionios celebrated a 14:11 victory.

Final standings: 1. Honved 12 (4),2. Panionios 9 (4), 3. OSC Budapest 6 (4), 4. Tenerife 2 (4), 5. White Sharks 1 (4).

Group F (Duisburg), Round 5

Savona – Telimar 10:12 (2:2, 2:3, 4:3, 2:4)
Savona: Campopiano 3, Patchaliev 2, Rocchi 1, Figlioli 1, Urbinati 1, Bruni 1, Erdelyi 1.
Telimar: Hooper 6, Giorgetti 3, Q.Woodhead 2, Lo Cascio 1.

ASC Duisburg – Partizan 11:14 (5:3, 1:5, 1:3, 4:3)
ASC Duisburg: Kueppers 4, Gusakov 3, Gergelyfi 2, Kolak 2.
Partizan: Draskovic 5, Trtovic 2, Jaksic 1, Dimitrijevic 1, Krstic 1, Jaukovic 1, Smiljevic 1, Cutajar 1, Gladovic 1.

Sete bye

In the opening match of the day, Telimar beat Savona, which qualified yesterday, and climbed atop the table, so both Italian teams went to the Group Stage. After that game, Partizan lost chances to take 2nd place. Therefore, the encounter between the Serbs and the Germans was a formality.

Telimar led 5:3 late into the second quarter, but Savona, the favorite in this tournament, produced a 4:0 run and earned a 7:5 advantage midway through the 3rd period. Telimar leveled at 7:7. Savona regained an 8:7 advantage, but the Sicilians leveled in the very last second of the quarter. Two seconds before the buzzer, they earned a man-up. Immediately after the exclusion, Johhny Hooper scored his 5th goal today for 8:8. Telimar earned a two-goal lead with two goals in the 27th minute. Quinn Woodhead converted a man-up (9:8). Just ten seconds later, Alex Giorgetti doubled the advantage. Savona lost the ball, which was taken by Alex Giorgetti. He noticed that Savona’s goalkeeper Nicosia was far from his goal and made it 10:8, sending the ball into the empty net from a 28-meter distance! The same player stretched the margin to three from a 6 on 5 – 11:8.

Savona’s goalless phase lasted for almost seven minutes. After four straight goals from Telimar, Savona scored two and reduced the gap (10:11). In the 32nd minute, Savona had a chance to level the score with a man-up, but a shot from its player went too high. Telimar forced an exclusion in its last possession. Hooper converted it to the final score – 12:10.

The difference in the number of exclusions was very big. Savona had nine man-up attacks and converted four. Telimar’s conversion was 8/19. Both teams had a penalty shot each. Telimar scored from a penalty, but Savona didn’t.

The outcome of the Italian derby ruined Partizan’s hopes of qualifying for the group phase. Still, the Serbs found enough motivation to collect the points in the last match and come back after a bad first quarter. ASC Duisburg’s Seifert and Partizan’s Dimitrijevic were red-carded eight seconds before the end (exclusions with substitutions after four minutes). The players will be fined according to the LEN’s Code of Discipline (200 or 500 euros) and suspended in the next match (or matches) that their clubs will play in the LEN competitions.

Final standings: 1. Telimar 10 (4), 2. Savona 9 (4), 3. Partizan 8 (4), 4. Sete 3 (4), 5. ASC Duisburg 0 (4).

Group G (Barcelona), Round 3

OSC Potsdam – Mladost 9:23 (1:10, 1:6, 4:3, 3:4)
OSC Potsdam:Korbel 3, Hofmann 2, Taubert 1, Zezelj 1, Arnold 1, Burger 1.
HAVK Mladost:Mijic 5, Penava 4, Rakovac 3,Busic 2, Koprcina 2, Solje 2, Busic 1, Gluhaic 1, Herceg 1.

Barcelona – Apollon Smyrnis 13:6 (3:0, 3:1, 4:3, 3:2)
Barcelona: Valls 3,P.Linares 2, Goma 2, Prat 1, Ramon 1, Bertran 1, Villamayor 1, Alegre 1, Daura 1.
Apollon Smyrnis: Shushiashvili 2, Bogdanovic 1, Troulos 1, GOniotakis Kontreras 1, Tottis 1.

Barcelona dominated Apollon in their encounter that decided the group winner. The hosts started strongly. Their 6:0 explosion in the first 12 minutes set the tone of the game. Apollon managed to get on the scoreboard in the 15th minute. The Greeks played better in the second half, but they were unable to mount a comeback.

Mladost said goodbye to the European stage for this season with a big victory over OSC Potsdam.

Final standings: 1. Barcelona 9 (3), 2. Apollon 6 (3), 3. Mladost 3 (3), 4. OSC Potsdam 0 (3)

Group H (Kotor), Round 5

Panathinaikos – Waspo 98 11:14 (3:2, 1:4, 3:5, 4:3)
Panathinaikos: Stevenson 4, Chatzigoulas 2, Dermitzakis 2, Shouridis 1, Agkortsas 1, Alvertis 1.
Waspo 98 Hannover: Schipper 3, Langiewicz 2, Gansen 2, Benic 2, Basic 2, Froreich 1, Jaeschke 1, Milradovic 1.

Primorac – Peristeri 12:6 (4:3, 2:0, 3:1, 3:2)
Primorac: Mrsic 3, Gopcevic 2, P.Cetkovic 2, Dj.Stanojevic 2, Dr. Brguljan 1, Lambie 1, Vico 1.
Peristeri: Foskolos 2, Chrysospathis 2, Ch. Bitsakos 1, Prekas 1.

Terrassa bye.

There were no surprises in the 5thround in Kotor, so there were no ups and downs in the table. Primroac kept 1st, and Waspo 98 Hannover 2nd place.

Panathinaikos was one step ahead of Waspo at the first break of the first match. The German team opened the second quarter with four goals in the first two minutes and a half, earning a 6:3 advantage. Waspo widened the gap to four in the third period (8:4, 9:5, 10:6 and 11:7) to secure a peaceful final quarter.

Primorac needed one point to save 1st place, while Peristeri had to win in the last game in regular time to qualify for the next stage. The hosts didn’t leave the decision for the fourth quarter. After 2:3, Primorac staged a 7:0 run between the 7th and the 23rd minute and jumped to 9:3. The contest was over.

Final standings: 1. Primorac 11 (4), 2. Waspo 98 Hannover 9 (4), 3. Peristeri 5 (4), 4. Terrassa 4 (4), 5. Panathinaikos 1 (4).

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