Telekom Veszprém: Sterbik, Cupara – Manaskov 5, Yahia 2, Moraes 1, Tönnesen 6, Gajic 6 (2), Nilsson 2, Marguc 3, Lauge 4, Strlek 2, Blagotinsek 1, Nenadic 3, Mahé 2 (1), Lékai, Borozan 3

 

HC Motor Zaporozhye: Komok, Kireev – Vujovic 4, Kubatko 1, Babichev 3, Malasinskas 6 (1), Pukhouski 6, Denysov, Doroshchuk 3, Kravchenko 1, Dontsov 1, Jaanimaa 1, Gurkovsky 1, Zhukov, Kus, Soroka 1

Penalties: 4/3 and 3/1

Suspensions: 8 min. and 10 min.

 

 

Last year’s runner-up Telekom Veszprém started the new Champions Leauge season against the Ukrainian champion. The guests started the game against the 6:0 Veszprém defense and after a big Blagotinsek block Strlek scored a fastbreak goal. Sterbik showed two huge saves, that was why the Ukrainians could score only one goal in the first 5 minutes (4-1). After Tönnesen even Nenadic scored twice and increased the difference to 3 goals. Both team had hard defenses around the pivot. In the 13. minute the guests came back to one goal and thanked to Sterbik they could not equalize (8-7). In the middle of the first half Lékai and Lauge came to the court. Nilsson scored nice fastbreak goal and increased the lead to 3 goals. In the 20. minute Zhukov got red card for a head punch. Mahé scored the first Veszprém penalty, but he missed the second one (24. min 14-12). Moreas closed the first half with a nice goal.

 

The second part of the game started with a Veszprém offense and a Borozan goal. With two fast home goal, the advantage grew to 7 goals. Sterbik still saved brilliant. Tönnesen scored his fifth goal in power play (38. min 23-16). The Ukrainian team started to be tired and Veszprém could score easy goals, so the guests took a timeout. After another Sterbik save the crowd counted to ten (45. min 28-18). Cupara came to the goal and Mahé into the playmaker position for the last 15 mintutes. Gajic scored the 30. Veszprém goal and the Veszprém dominance continued. Mahé got 2 minutes suspension for speaking, then Yahia scored his first goal. Cupara saved a penalty and Lauge scored from the air (53. min 33-23). We could see Veszprém show and a lot of beautiful goals. In the last seconds, Manaskov scored the 40. Veszprém goal and closed the game.

 

 

David Davis: It was hard to play the first CL match, even we played a lot of games in the domestic league. The Hungarian league is the priority for us, but everybody wants to play in the Champions League, this the most beautiful tournament in handball. The players were focused and we played really good. It was too hot in the Arena and we could not play in high tempo. Anyway, I am happy about the game, the first half was harder, in the second half the team was focused and showed its real strengthens.

 

Petar Nenadic: I think the coaches told everything. We came here today with a huge respect to Motor Z. In the last years, they are playing a very good handball. We were a bit nervous that is why there were a few unusual mistakes, but in the end, we won. There are many more games to play in this season to achieve our goals, but this was a good start. Thank you to our spectators for the support they were amazing like always. Now we have to focus and keep working because next week another big opponent is coming here.

 

 

Mykola Stepanets: We watched Veszprém against Brest and Zagreb and we knew that they run for 60 minutes. I told my players before the match, to try score first, but we could not make it. We run after Veszprém in the whole game and we almost catch them once in the first half. We lost a lot of balls and made mistakes in the clean chances, that was the reason why the Veszprém advantage was increased. We knew that Veszprém has a good team and they deserved the victory.

 

Doroshchuk Dmytro: Congratulations to Veszprém. They deserved the victory today. We are very sorry for our fans who travelled here to support us. It is impossible to hope for a good result when you get forty goals. It is very difficult to speak after such a game.

 

 

 

Photo: Dávid Vörös