EHF Cup Group Day Three - Tight win in Denmark

EHF CUP GROUP STAGE DAY THREE

HOLSTEBRO – USAM, GRAKJAER ARENA

1st half

After an easy save by Desbonnet a stupid turnover but a very solid defense switches off and after 2’35 1-1

No way the refs accept Sanad’s goal so it 2-4 after 5’40. Number 4 for USAM with a counter-attack ball almost lost when Sanad deftly moves it in the opposite direction. Second quick thinking counter attack finished off brilliantly by Sanad

No euphoria please because we tend to switch off in the second half

I am happier with the green shirt

Holstebro coming back but Elohim Prandi gives a bit of breathing space with a long-range effort 10’15 5-8

There are a lot of empty seats in the arena

Three technical faults already within 12 minutes. Not good enough and worrying.

And a superb jump for a top corner finish by an opposition player on 12’45 6-8

And Guigou gets his cheeky lob penalty saved but thankfully Quentin Dupuy scores an easy one as empty goal strategy bites the Danish side.

Beautiful wing play by Sanad with a four-goal advantage with 15 minutes played 6-10

Good togetherness in defense followed by a concentrated Desbonnet

Nyauteu finds a small spot in the middle 7-11 on 19 mins

But another turnover derails the machine and 45 seconds later it is 8-11

A superb top corner goal by Enderlei their number 14: he scores an amazing one and now on the counter no two mins against USAM player and penalty conceded and now it’s only a two goal game 11-13 with less than 5 mins left in the first half

Dupuy then gets 2 minutes when there was nothing petulant and very dangerous

Another turnover. Same old errors. I am starting to worry again! I fear but thank God Remi is motivated. I want a 92% save rate, he has 56% at the min

It is now 12-15 on 28’35

But a very good wing play as USAM plays with one player less, which means the Danish outfit makes it 13-15

Suddenly black screen SCARY and on the final buzzer a Sanad penalty gets a 3-goal advantage at the interval 13-16

Second half

As expected USAM starts poorly the second half

Porup delivers against porous USAM defensive commitment with just one minute played in the second half 14-16

A lot of confusion. A missed lob on the wing then a lucky penalty with two minutes in the counter for USAM 33’15 14-17

Despite being one player down the Danish team recovers brightly, first finding a gap in a passive defense then on the counter 16-17 a minute later.

Luc Tobie gets a silly two minutes

Maybe it will spur a better defense and yet it does.

Superb save and he is very happy when on 37’ minutes Desbonnet saves brilliantly with his feet, preventing a 17-17, instead 45 second later it 16-18 but it is becoming a tight affair

Unfortunately, it is 18-18 now on 38’45 and the Danish keeper is getting excited.

Danish number 25 jumps easily twice and frustrates Desbonnet and now it is scary as it 20-19 with 11 minutes played in the second half

Another blackout for the team and the EHF TV screen as well.

A draw, and you can say goodbye to qualification and the Berlin hopes

Important Desbonnet save 43’45

Not a long of combinations and easy to defend unfortunately.

The local public is getting frustrated

The Danish side scores a beautiful wing goal so it’s 22-22 with 46 minutes played

We must not concede as there are 11 minutes left and it is still a 23-23 a piece.

Come on we need to win the game

16 technical fouls in total over 50 minutes

Another goal for Sanad 23-24 with ten minutes left on the clock

Poisonous Porup number 25 gets the game at 24-24 45 second slater.

Gallego gets number 25 and Mr Maurice gets a warning but he apologised

If we score it will be a very useful save by Desbonnet. Tobie struggles but makes it 24-26 23’20

Cheap penalty conceded by Quentin. Aie.

BAZNIK did not have the desired impact and it is a one goal lead only. Six minutes left.

When Tobie makes his turn refs let play go on, which means 25-27

Three in a row by Tobie and the number 28 was a lovely goal because it was a low shot 56’10

But careful as it is now 26-28 on 57 minutes

It is not yet won. And careful not to have passive play. Key penalty obtained by Nyautey. But Sanad missed it. And then in the counter-attack completely alone.

And it is now 27-28 with just over a minute left

Rebichon is annoyed with the passive play.

Frank Maurice can celebrate and so does Desbonnet

Beautiful 30 by Gallego but number 28 on the buzzer.

OUF a win 28-30