IKF ECup day 3

Korfball Club BEOGRAD  – FJEP Bonson (referee Tamás Elekes)

The best French player starts the match despite of a serious injury the day before.

Bonson is the best team in the beginning and with penalties the score goes up to 2 – 5. Beograd does not seem to find solutions to disrupt the French attacks and 5’ before the end of the half time Bonson feels comfortable with 3 – 9.

When the referee blows the whistle for half time the score is 7 – 12.

After tea spectators see another Beograd that progressively starts to work to close the gap (10 – 13). Bonson tries to control the game but despite a second yellow card for a Serbian player the match ends with 17 – 17.

In the golden goal period the first French attack is unsuccessful whereas the second Serbian shot is the good one (17 – 18)

Szentendrei Korfball Klub – Megasports Warschau (referee: Ronad Buis)

The decisive match for place in the next edition of the IKF ECup starts with two teams both afraid to loose. A very long study round and a low score as a result together with the respectable age of some of the players leads to an equal score 5 – 5.

This is a match without tempo. Scores are a result of mistakes by defenders or unprepared long shots rather than tactical set ups. The home team benefits from the support of the enthusiastic crowd to lead with 10 – 8 at half time.

Same situation in the second half although due to some secure shooting score goes up regularly. When the Hungarians succeed in creating a small margin, Warschau has to take some risks. Former player of the year Horvath with a spectacular assist and the last successful shot decides about who will join the next IKF ECup (24 – 20)

Trojans KC – Schweriner Korfball Club e.V. ’67 (referee: Miguel Wensma)

The match between German and English champions reminds us of the old days when ECups were played outdoors with just one representative of both countries.

A good playing level, fast actions of two teams equal in talent and in strength lead to score of 8 – 8 minutes before half time (11 – 11)

Same struggle in the second half! Trojans is constantly ahead but only by small margins whereas Schweriner desperately tries to keep the goal difference as small as possible. They even manage to equal the score just before the start of the real playing time (15- 15) but cool English decisions in attack prevent Schweriner from bridging the gap (18 – 17)

State University –HSS – Club Esportiu Vilanova i La Geltru (referee: Paul Jeanes)

When a Catalan team is on the field one can expect physical play. The spectators are curious how their Russian opponents will deal with this. We see very good korfball on both sides with defenders stronger than their respective attackers. Only at the of the first half HSS manages to create an gap the be maintained till the end of it (14 – 10)

The Catalans, very aware of the rebound supremacy of the opponent, start intensively working to stay in the game and they even succeed very well. This effort cannot be maintained and Russian shots disrupt a possible equalization (21 – 17).

This is a high level game and there is a clear revival of the University under their new coach Nizovski. In the final stage Catalans suffer from a scoring problem and the Russians slowly but surely head for an well earned victory (28 – 21)

KCC Sokol Ceske Budejovice – Kon. Boeckenberg K.C. (referee: Sandra Anus)

(19 – 39)

KZ/Hiltex – Núcleo Corfebol Benfica  (referee: Ondrej Fridrich)

(33-14)