RRI Sports Club – Handball

News from international handball.

România Internațional, 13.04.2016, 13:06

The last couple of days have been extremely important for Romanian handball. In the women’s Champions League, CSM Bucharest qualified for the first time to the semi-finals. On the other hand, the Romanian men’s national team is one step closer to the 2018 European Championships.

CSM Bucharest managed a historic qualification to the Champions League semi-finals, the first time a Romanian team reaches this phase. In the quarterfinals, CSM knocked out one of this year’s favourite clubs, Rostov-Don of Russia.

In the first leg on April 2, the Romanian team had won narrowly at home, 26-25. In the return leg played on Russia, CSM also grabbed a narrow 28-27 win. CSM dominated the game, and even secured a 7-goal lead. The ending was dramatic. Rostov-Don came from behind, but couldn’t even the odds.

Joining CSM in the semi-finals will be Gyor of Hungary, Vardar Skopje of Macedonia and Buducnost Podgorica of Montenegro. The defending European champions, Buducnost qualified to the semi-finals after brushing aside HCM Baia Mare of Romania. Buducnost won the first leg in Romania 29-24 and the return leg in Podgorica 32-25. The semi-finals are scheduled to take place on May 7 and 8 in Budapest.

Romania’s last representative in the EHF Cup, Corona Brasov, was edged out in the semi-finals after losing to Metzingen of Germany. In the first leg on April 3, the German team won 26-22 in Brasov, and also won Saturday’s return leg played at home, 30-23.

In men’s handball, Romania’s national team has qualified to the preliminary group phase of the 2018 European Championships. On Sunday, Romania won against Israel 32-21 in Calarasi, in the second leg of the playoffs. In the first leg, Romania had won 30-27 in Tel-Aviv.

The draw for the main group phase will take place in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Romania is in pot four. Teams will be drawn into seven groups of four teams each. The first two ranking teams in each group, as well as the third-ranking team with the best stats will secure qualification to the European Championships. The host country Croatia is automatically qualified.

(Translated by V. Palcu)