Gummersbach and Ystad reach main round

FROM THE TOP 5 MATCHES

GROUP D
Ystads IF HF (SWE) vs CSM Constanta (ROU) 38:29 (20:18)

Following this win, Ystad secured their progression to the main round. In the high-scoring first half, the hosts took an early 6:2 lead, but while they went on to dominate, Constanta stabilised the game, so the gap between the rivals was just two goals at half-time. Shortly after the restart, the Romanian side took their only lead throughout the match, 22:21, but Ystad responded with a 5:0 run and did no slow down afterwards, as their goalkeeper Alexander Linden boasted a 41 per cent saving efficiency. His teammate Linus Fernebrad scored eight goals from as many attempts, as Ystad cruised to a comfortable nine-goal win. 

GROUP H
VfL Gummersbach (GER) vs FH Hafnarfjordur (ISL) 32:24  (16:10)

In Round 4, Gummersbach had become the first German team in the current competition to drop points, as they lost at Fenix Toulouse. However, now they went back to winning ways, comfortably taking two points against Hafnarfjordur. The home side opened up a 5:3 lead early in the game, but then the visitors from Iceland hit back, as a 5:0 run powered them to a 8:5 advantage. Gummersbach held their nerve, and as their goalkeeper Bertram Obling made 11 saves for a 52 per cent saving rate in the first half, his team were up 16:10 at the break. In the second half, Obling was replaced by Dominik Kuzmanovic, who stopped just four balls, and the game became more balanced. The hosts continued to have the upper hand, and they ultimately claimed their fourth win in the group matches, with Lukas Blohme becoming their top scorer with eight goals. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Group A leaders GOG stayed unbeaten, as they proved too strong for RK Gorenje Velenje, 31:21
• in Group B, the second-placed Fraikin Bm.Granollers made a step towards the main round, as 10 goals from Victor Romero propelled them to a 41:30 win over Gornik Zabrze
• Limoges Handball took the biggest win of the day so far, 34:21 at TATRAN Prešov; the French team will be through if Sport Lisboa e Benfica beat Kadetten Schaffhausen later today
• Flensburg maintained a perfect record in Group G, snatching a hard-fought 32:28 victory away at MRK Sesvete despite Filip Peric making 16 saves for the Croatian team
• 10 more Round 5 matches will finish later today, with some more main round berths likely to be secured

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