The Eon Cup in Budapest concluded with victories for Germany Hungary and Spain in three enjoyable treats ahead of the Christmas break.
Spain overcame Serbia by a single score (14-13), while Hungary played another youthful side in their convincing 16-10 win over Germany. The Germans gave a good account of themselves in the Hungary match, given they had already played a game in the morning; Milos Sekulic’s side took their contest with Romania all the way to penalties, which they won.
Day 4, Eon Cup 2023
Serbia 13 – 14 Spain (3-3, 4-5, 4-2, 2-4)
Serbia:R. Filipovic, D. Mandic 3, S. Rasovic 2, P. Jaksic 1, M. Radulovic, F. Jankovic, R. Drasovic 1, V. Martinovic, N. Vico 1, N. Ubovic 4, L. Gladovic 1, V. Rasovic, V. Misovic.
Spain: U. Aguirre, U. Biel, B. Gomila, F. Valera, M. De Toro 2, M. Larumbe 4, A. Barroso 3, S. Cabanas 1, O. Asensio, F. Perrone 3, B. Mallarach 1, A. Bustos, E. Lorrio.
Romania 10 – 12 Germany (3-2, 2-1, 1-3, 3-3, PSO:1-3)
Romania: M. Tic, D. Belenyesi 2, M. Lutescu, T. Fulea 2, V. Antipa, R. Rath, A. Tepelus, I. Vranceanu 3, S. Colodrovschi 2, D. Bota, F. Iudean 1, L. Vanscik, M. Dragusin.
Germany: F. Benke, Z. Bozic, F. Korbel, S. Seifet 1, F. Schutze2, L. Kuppers 3, D. Strelezkij 3, Y. Chiru 1, A. Sekulic, F. Dolff, N.Schipper 2, M. Gansen, M. Vernt Schweimer.
Hungary 16 – 10 Germany (2-1, 5-3, 5-4, 4-2)
Hungary: D. Szakonyi, Z. Vismeg, G. Agh, Z. Pohl, Vi. Vigvari 4, A. Nagy 2, G. Fekete 2, G. Burian 4, P. Kovacs 1, Ve. Vigvari 1, Z. Szeghalmi 1, V. Varga 1, M. Banyai
Germany: K. Gotz, Z. Bozic 1, F. Korbel 1, M. Dyck, F. Schutze 3, L. Kuppers, D. Strelezkij 3, Y. Chiru 2, A. Sekulic, T. Baeur, N. Schipper, M. Gansen, M. Schweimer.
Serbia 13 – 14 Spain: Four-goal Larumbe propells Spain past Serbia
Four goals, including the winner with 51 seconds remaining in the match, from Marc Larumbe spearheaded Spain to a closely-fought 14-13 victory over Serbia.
Spain was grateful for the return of their captain, Felipe Perrone, who had been rested in previous games, and they needed him and his three goals in this game.
In a rematch of the bronze medal match at this summer’s World Championship, Spain played a stronger outfit, but perhaps that didn’t reflect on the scoresheet.
Despite key absentees, Serbia couldn’t build on yesterday’s win over Hungary. However, Uros Stevanovic will be quietly satisfied with what he saw this evening, which was a better showing than yesterday’s victory over Hungary.
The two star-studded sides were practically evenly matched in terms of statistics, with both teams converting 50% of their attempts and scoring five extra-player chances each. The lead changed hands several times in the contest, but it was Spain who held the initiative.
The sides were level at 3-3 after eight minutes. Marc Larumbe’s brace helped Spain edge ahead in the second period (7-4), but the lead would soon change.
Serbia began building momentum, firstly reducing the deficit to a single score by halftime, before back-to-back scores in the third period to take the lead for the first time since the first quarter (9-8).
The lead continued to zig-zag in the final quarter, as Spain re-took the lead at 12-11 and again at 13-12.
Three and a half minutes of relative inactivity saw the clock tick into the last 90 seconds. Vouliagmeni’s Nemanja Ubovic equalized with 1:16 on the clock, but the Spanish response was absolute, with Larumbe replying in the next attack, proving to be the match-winning score.
Hungary 16 – 10 Germany: Bright future ahead for Magyars
Hungary were good value for their 16-10 win over Germany, concluding their pre-Christmas preparations on a high.
Vince Vigvari and Gergely Burian led the scoring front with four goals each, contributing to Hungary’s success with another rotated lineup. Zsolt Varga seized the opportunity to closely assess Vince Varga, Zsombor Szeghalmi, Mark Banyai, and Gyorgy Agh in their ‘Valogatott’ colors.
Despite fatigue from their earlier duel with Romania, Germany showcased good attacking form, notching ten goals in the match. Milos Sekulic will take pride in Germany’s respectable extra-player conversion rate of 56%. Overall, especially with their victory over Serbia, the Germans can be content with their performance in the Hungarian capital.
Although Germany opened the scoring with Schutze, Hungary took control from there, responding with a goal in the subsequent attack by Adam Nagy, leading 2-1 at the end of the first quarter.
A hat-trick from Vince Vigvari and a brace for Gergely Burian built a comfortable cushion for the Magyars heading into half-time, with a score of 7-4.
Three goals in as many minutes, courtesy of Vince Vigvari, Peter Kovacs, and Gergo Fekete, took Hungary into double-digits. Despite Germany’s effective conversion through Ferdinand Korbel and Denis Strelezkij, Hungary maintained their lead on the back-straight (12-8).
Gergely Burian secured his fourth goal in the final knockings, and there was a notable first senior score for Szolnok youngster Zsombor Szeghalmi, capping off a 16-10 victory for the hosts.
Romania 10 – 12 Germany: Equal contest settled from the 5 metre mark
Germany held their nerve in the penalty shoot-out to secure their second victory in Budapest, defeating Romania 12-10.
Regulation time was a deadlock, with both teams evenly matched at 9-9. The Germans, though leading for less than forty seconds during the entire match, demonstrated a slightly superior composure in the shoot-out. Notably, Romania’s David Belenyesi, Tudor Fulea, and Silvian Colodrovschi all misfired in the shoot-out, sparing Sascha Seifert and Zoran Bozic, the Germans’ missed penalty takers, from potential scrutiny.
The early stages saw Romania seizing a 2-0 lead within the initial ninety seconds, maintaining their lead throughout the first half (5-3). The second half proved to be a more challenging phase, yet Bogdan Raths’ team managed to retain a two-goal cushion with only three minutes remaining. However, Germany staged a late-game resurgence, with Mark Gansen and Lukas Kuppers notching back-to-back scores in the final two minutes, leveling the game before securing victory in the shoot-out.
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