HLA Champions League

Krems’ adversity turned into astonishing virtue

Tim Rozman (red kit) is getting stronger and stronger. Too bad that the legionnaire will leave Krems in the summer.(Bild: GEPA pictures/ Oliver Lerch)

Krems overran the visitors from Bregenz in the quarter-finals of the HLA Champions League. A double test of maturity now awaits youngster Tilen Pausits.

Matthias Höllerer, the actual number three in goal, was allowed to join the handball party in the final. After coming on as a substitute, he made three saves in six minutes after Lukas Domevscek had impressed once again. This was typical of the start to the HLA quarter-finals, with which Krems amazed and inspired. Nine home-grown players took to the court against Bregenz - also a consequence of the many absentees (Eichberger, Simek, Feichtinger, Wiesbauer, Rudischer). "The defense was really strong, Bregenz was overwhelmed by the pace," was how coach Ibish Thaqi summed up the 30:21 (15:9) win.

"We can only do it through our defense!"
 "It was really nice!" And important in the decisive phase. In which former team player Daniel Dicker is called upon as a strategist at the back and front. "We can only do it by covering!" The first exercise was a complete success, the second part will follow on Wednesday in Bregenz (5.15 pm, krone.tv live). It is unusual for Krems to travel to the Ländle the day before, for a simple reason. The team bus is carrying Rapid fans to the soccer cup final, so they have to travel to Bregenz in groups.

Maturity test calls
"The second step will be much more difficult," Thaqi is not the only one who suspects. But Krems were already able to win in Bregenz in the (mixed) basic round (32:28). Important for the head. Especially for the strong youngster Tilen Pausits, who will not only be smoking on the pitch. The next day, the school maturity test in Krems awaits.