FC Porto Sofarma won the battle of Dragons against Holstebro, 28-26, for the match aimed at determining the 3rd and 4th place of the EHF Cup, and was able to reach the podium of the competition. At the Sparkassen-Arena, the blue and white team wrote another beautiful chapter in the history of this unforgettable campaign.

The team led by Magnus Andersson didn’t start the match well, again making a number of defensive mistakes, going several minutes without scoring and having to recover. At halftime, Holstebro had a two goals advantage on the scoreboard (16-14).

The second-half was different. After tying the match 16-16, FC Porto Sofarma moved ahead thanks to Daymaro Salina and started their best period, showing tremendous physical capacity.

The opponent was still able to tie the match again (21-21), but the blue and whites gave a proper response against an opponent that also aimed at seven on six attacks, leaving their goal open. Showing good defensive performance, important saves from Thomas Bauer and a growing efficiency on the attack, the Dragons ended up winning the match. Diogo Branquinho and António Areia, with seven goals each, were the top scorers for the blue and whites.

FC Porto Sofarma will play again on Tuesday, for matchday 8 of the Final Stage of Andebol 1. The match against Madeira SAD, at Pavilhão do Funchal, is scheduled for 17h00, and will be broadcasted live by Porto Canal.

MATCH REPORT

HOLSTEBRO-FC PORTO SOFARMA, 26-28
EHF Cup, match for 3rd and 4th place
18/05/2019
Sparkassen-Arena, Kiel (Germany)

Referees: Arthur Brunner and Morad Salah (Switzerland)

HOLSTEBRO: Simon Gade and Sebastian Frandsen (g.k.), Vignir Svavarsson (2), Thomas Damgaard (1), Lars Mousing-Nielsen (4), Jonathan Wurtz, Niels Lindholt (1), Jac Karlsson (1), Magnus Bramming (4), Mikkel Mortensen (1), John Ostlund, Malte Justesen, Kay Smits (6), Jonas Porup (5) and Peter Balling (1)
Coach: Patrick Westerholm

FC PORTO SOFARMA: Alfredo Quintana and Thomas Bauer (g.k.);  Victor Iturriza (2), Yoan Balazquéz, Miguel Martins (1), Djibril Mbengue, Ángel Hernández, Rui Silva (1), Daymaro Salina (2), Leonel Fernandes (1), Alexis Borges (1), Diogo Branquinho (7), António Areia (7), André Gomes (1), Miguel Alves (3) and Fábio Magalhães (2)
Coach: Magnus Andersson

At halftime: 16-14