Nine goals from Nevsehir Belediye SK’s Milana Molnar lit up the final day of the women’s Challenger Cup Qualification Round I, inspiring her team to a crucial 15–14 victory over Asten Johnson Strakonice and securing a place in the next stage of the competition. Sunday’s remaining fixtures followed the same pattern of decisive outcomes, with SSV Esslingen defeating Slavia UK Bratislava WP and Hapoel Emek Hayarden overpowering ZVU Partizan. All three winners booked their spots in Qualification Round II, joining group winners London Otter in Monday’s upcoming draw.
Full details of the men’s and women’s Challenger Cup Qualification Round II draw, set for Monday, can be found by clicking here.
2025/26 Challenger Cup Women
Qualification Round I — Group Stage, Day 3
Sunday, 7 December
Group A (Strakonice)
SSV Esslingen (GER) 11–5 Slavia UK Bratislava WP (SVK)
Asten Johnson Strakonice (CZE) 14–15 Nevsehir Belediye SK (TUR)
Standings: 1. Esslingen 6pts, 2. Nevsehir 6pts, 3. Bratislava 3pts, 4. Strakonice 3pts
Group B (Belgrade)
ZVU Partizan (SRB) 5–22 Hapoel Emek Hayarden (ISR)
Standings: 1. Otter 6pts, 2. Hapoel 3pts, 3. ZVU Partizan 0pts
Nevsehir Belediye SK could hardly contain their joy at the final buzzer after edging out hosts Strakonice in what proved to be the match of the day. The encounter was decided only in the final minutes, with both teams exchanging leads throughout a tense fourth quarter. Strakonice held narrow advantages at 13–12 and 14–13, but Nevsehir refused to fade. Molnar, the standout of the tournament, delivered a sensational performance, scoring nine times to bring her total to 18 across the weekend.
The Czechs started strongly, repeatedly going two goals ahead in the opening phases (3–1, 4–2, 5–3, 7–5). Yet Nevsehir matched them stride for stride, ensuring all of the first three quarters ended level (5–5, 4–4, 3–3). Molnar again proved decisive with a brilliant individual effort to make it 14–14 with 5:40 left, flicking the ball away from two defenders and the goalkeeper with her foot before finishing into an empty net. Moments later, Türkiye international Betul Berra Haltas fired a stunning shot into the top corner to put Nevsehir ahead with 5:05 remaining.
Strakonice had a golden chance to equalise from the penalty line with just over three minutes to play, but Alzbeta Hola’s attempt was superbly saved by goalkeeper Darya Boykova. Nevsehir’s defence held firm through a frantic final stretch to complete a dramatic comeback and eliminate the Czechs.
In the group’s earlier match, SSV Esslingen confirmed top spot with an 11–5 win over Slavia UK Bratislava WP. Captain Jamie-Julique Haas rounded off an excellent weekend by scoring five times, taking her personal tally to 10 goals in the tournament. After a balanced first quarter (1–1), Esslingen exploded with seven unanswered goals to seize full control. Bratislava fought hard to reduce the gap to 8–4 after three periods, but the Germans struck twice early in the fourth to close out a confident, disciplined victory. Combined with their win over Nevsehir on Saturday, Esslingen finished as deserved group winners.
Over in Group B in Belgrade, Hapoel Emek Hayarden responded emphatically to Saturday’s narrow defeat to London Otter, sweeping aside ZVU Partizan 22–5. The Israelis opened with a dominant 7–0 first quarter and continued to pull away, adding four more goals without reply in the second period. Partizan finally struck twice before halftime, with goals from the oldest player in the tournament, 49-year-old Dragana Milicevic, and one of the youngest, 15-year-old Anastazija Ilic.
The second half followed the same rhythm, with every Hapoel field player appearing on the scoresheet. Yuval Raz led the attack with five goals, closely followed by Mika Koren with four. Despite two heavy defeats, Partizan leave the tournament with promising foundations, especially after scoring 14 goals against Otter on Friday. Their young squad—featuring several teenagers and even 12-year-old Mila Janicijevic—will undoubtedly grow stronger from the experience.
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