EHF second round hanging in the balance

Sporting’s handball team lost out 36-31 to the Danish side Team Tvis Holstebro this weekend, in the EHF Cup second round first-leg. Despite the loss in what was a tantalising game full of goals at both ends (67, the highest at this stage of the competition), the team from Alvalade can still repair the damage come the return leg on Portuguese soil.

The opening stages proved that Sporting had done their homework prior to the encounter, but still a powerful Danish side soon showed what is was capable of and rushed four goals ahead (6-2) after six minutes thanks to some devastating counter-attacks. However, Sporting rallied and soon notched 8-3 back to 8-6 at the ten minute mark, before reducing the gap to just a single goal (10-9).

Holstebro again stepped on the gas and extended the lead to 14-10 after the break and maintained the a four goal cushion for much of the half (15-11, 17-13, 18-14), before eventually going in at the break 20-17 ahead.

Successful attempts on goal started the second-half off, before TT Holstebro opened up a six-goal gap for the first time 10 minutes from time (31-25). Sporting did manage to claw back into it in the final stages (33-30), before the Danes closed with a five-goal win that leaves everything open for the return leg.