Posts and bad luck prevented Sporting from making handball history

Leões were on top at several moments of the game, but never managed to kill him; Costa brothers were prominent in the goals; Salvador was a mainstay in interceptions

Sporting beat Rhein-Neckar Lowen 29-28 in the second leg of the quarter-finals of the European Handball League (EHL), but the result was not enough to offset the defeat in the first game (32-29). The lions said goodbye to the test.

An inglorious result for the lions, who were very close to making history and reaching the final four of the competition for the first time. Ricardo Costa’s team played the game eye to eye with the German giant, having superiority in several moments of the game, even being ahead in the result with a 4 goal advantage on more than one occasion. However, the green and white team never managed to kill the game, having conceded several (avoidable) goals from goal to goal for taking too long to get the goalkeeper back on the field. The goalposts were also on the side of the German team, denying the Lions a goal four times.

On the Portuguese team’s side, Francisco Costa was the player who stood out, with the full-back scoring 11 goals and constantly putting pressure on the German defense through his speed and sharp passes. Martim Costa was also in the spotlight, having scored on six occasions, with Salvador having several high-level interceptions, once again assuming himself as the mainstay of the Lisbon team.

At Rhein-Neckar Lowen, Tobias Reichmann did damage, breaking through the Lions’ defense on several occasions, creating opportunities for his colleagues and scoring a total of seven goals. David Spath was once again a giant in the German goal: the German was once again decisive, preventing Sporting from overcoming the 4-goal advantage barrier several times.

Sporting says goodbye to the European Handball League on its feet, and will now focus on the national championship, where it remains in the lead.