Handball

Linz and Hard get off to a winning start in semi-final series

(Bild: GEPA)

HC Hard and HC Linz started the "best of three" semi-final series of the HLA Champions League with victories on Saturday. The Vorarlberg handball club beat UHK Krems 32:26 (17:12) in front of its home crowd, while Linz celebrated a 35:30 (16:13) win away at Fivers Margareten. The second games will be played on Tuesday in Krems (18:20) and Linz (20:20/both live on ORF Sport +).

Last year's finalists Linz kept the upper hand against the Fivers, as they did twice in the basic round. Apart from a brief phase between the 17th and 22nd minute, the Viennese side were always trailing and were unable to reduce the deficit decisively. Krems snatched back two goals against Hard after trailing by six in the final period (27:25/56), but then had to let the game slip away.

Results of the men's handball league on Saturday
Semi-final ("best of three") 1st game:

HC Fivers WAT Margareten - HC Linz AG 30:35 (13:16)
Score in the series: 0:1.

Alpla HC Hard - UHC Krems 32:26 (17:12)
Score in the series: 1:0