FCBARCELONA.CAT

12.10.2008 18:27

Handball rocks the Palau (30-19)

Verònica Díez

This Sunday Barça Borges easily saw off Metalurg Skopje at the Palau Blaugrana (30-19). The defence, counterattack and Venio Losert all stood out.

Barça dominated the early exchanges but towards the end of the first half the Macedonians came back to cut the distance on the scoreboard to 14 to 11 at halftime. But in the second half it was a different story as Barça stepped on the gas and pulled away. Venio Losert had a great game between the sticks and Víctor Tomás was a key figure in counterattacks, as was team-mate Jesper Noddesbo. The Barça defensive wall was once again outstanding.

Cut and thrust

Barça soon took a 3-0 lead as Metalurg ran up against the Catalans’ defensive wall with Venio Losert having a great game in goal. The visitors took eight minutes to score their first goal though they did pull things back to 4 - 3. Then Barça Borges went back on the attack and four unanswered goals left them six ahead at 12-6, only for the Macedonians to pull it back to 13 - 11 with a minute to go before halftime. Albert Rocas then made the halftime score 14 - 11.

The show begins

In the second half Barça was a lot more powerful and effective. In the 7th minute Rubén Garabaya scored the first of 5 unanswered goals to make it 23 - 14. Little by little Metalurg Skopje dropped out of the game as they were unable to match the tempo of the Catalans’ game. Losert held firm and Garabaya and Noddesbo played outstandingly well. With four minutes left on the clock Albert Rocas made it 29 - 16, the biggest lead in the game.