A dramatic late equalizer propelled CSM Oradea to the Quarter Final Round of the men’s Champions League, following a gripping encounter against Romanian rivals Steaua Bucharest. The decisive moment came 15 seconds from time, sealing an 11-11 draw before Oradea triumphed in a penalty shootout. Despite the shootout win, a single point from the game was enough to confirm Oradea’s progression.
Group A
CSM Oradea (ROU) 11-11 (8-7P) Steaua Bucharest (ROU)
Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) 9-12 VK Novi Beograd (SRB)
Final Standings: 1. Novi Beograd 18, 2. Oradea 10, 3. Steaua 7, 4. Hannover 1
The all-Romanian clash delivered a thrilling spectacle. Steaua appeared to control the game during the second quarter, building a 6-4 lead. However, missed opportunities, including two penalties, proved costly. Oradea’s resilience saw them rally to level the game, with standout performances from Levente Vancsik and Filip Gardasevic.
The final quarter was a rollercoaster. Steaua led 10-9 with two minutes left, but Oradea’s tactical timeout set up a game-tying goal from Vancsik, sending the home crowd into raptures. With the draw secured, Oradea’s players celebrated their advancement, capped off by a flawless performance in the shootout.
Meanwhile, Novi Beograd cruised to victory in Hannover, maintaining their perfect record. The Serbian side pulled away in the third period with a 3-0 run, cementing their dominance.
Group B
Jadran Split (CRO) 10-12 FTC-Telekom (HUN)
SPD Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB) 8-6 Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
Final Standings: 1. FTC 18, 2. Jadran 11, 3. Radnicki 7, 4. Dinamo 0
Defending champions FTC-Telekom faced their toughest challenge yet in Split. Trailing 7-3 midway through the second period, the Hungarian side showcased their championship pedigree with a stunning second-half comeback. Key contributions from Vince Varga and Stylianos Argyropoulos turned the tide, with Krisztian Manhercz’s late goal sealing victory.
Elsewhere, Radnicki secured a straightforward win over Dinamo Tbilisi, who finished the group stage without a point. Despite a slow second half, the Serbian side’s early dominance ensured their win was never in doubt.