The Bundesliga handball club Thüringer HC has reached the group stage of the European League in commanding style. The team of Head Coach Herbert Müller won the second leg of the third qualifying round at Hungarian first-division club Váci NKSE by 34:29 (20:12) on Sunday evening. The outstanding player for THC, who had already won the first leg by a clear 34:22, was Johanna Reichert. The Austrian international scored eleven goals.
The Thuringians dashed the hosts' hopes of a sensation in the opening spell. They dominated with their fast-paced play and capitalized on the technical mistakes of the Hungarian side. The Bundesliga side were already 7:0 ahead after six minutes, with Vác finding no antidote to Reichert in particular in the first half. After just 14 minutes, the THC backcourt player had eight goals to her name. With the clear lead behind them, the intensity dropped as a result, but the visitors remained in control at all times and were eight goals ahead at the break.
The Thuringians started the second half with a lack of concentration, enabling the Hungarian side, who never gave up, to reduce the deficit to 18:22 (41st minute). After a timeout by Müller, the visitors stabilized again and ultimately ran out comfortable winners. The first matchday in the group stage is scheduled for January 11/12, 2025.
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