Coach Bennet Wiegert’s team started the game cautiously. Although good chances could be created again on the wings, but conversion failed. On the other hand, Asian champions Sharjah defended physically present and attentive, provoking several turnovers. After ten minutes played, a 4:7 deficit was recorded and Wiegert took his first time-out.
It had an effect. Gisli Kristjansson prevailed in the next attack in the one-one and finished successfully, Felix Claar added two goals, and the score was 7-8 (13th). In the 16th minute, Sebastian Barthold scored via counter-attack to make it 9-9. Even more aggressive in defence, Sharjah’s goals could also be reduced. Especially since their own number of mistakes decreased. In the 22nd minute, Magnus Saugstrup scored to make it 11-10, and by half-time the lead had been extended to 16-13.
In the second half, it became clearer. SCM scored the next two goals and made it 18-13 (35th). However, the team did not really get into the flow. However, since Sharjah physically weakened and produced some mistakes himself, the course of the game continued to develop positively. In the 45th minute, Pettersson scored to make it 25-17, Saugstrup put the finishing touches with the 36-26.
As the leader of Group A, SCM thus moves into the knockout phase. Who will be played in the semi-finals will be decided in the evening. Barcelona leads Group C, Veszprém and Al Ahly will compete against each other from 8 p.m. (local time) and fight for first and second place in Group B.
Bennet Wiegert: “It’s not every day that you play against continental champions. We saw today what a good team Sharjah is. It was a tough game and we didn’t find our rhythm at the beginning. Then we’ll get into it better and bring it home solidly after half-time. We are happy to be the first semi-finalist. Now we’ll be surprised by what’s coming and look forward to making it to the final again.”
Albin Lagergren: “We are happy that we won the game. It was tough and we struggled a bit at the beginning, but in the end we managed to do it and are happy with the result.”
Referees: Vladimir Jovandic/ Marko Sekulic
Attendance: 250
Score: 2-1 (5th), 4-7 (10th), 7-9 (15th), 9-10 (20th), 13-13 (25th), 16-13 (30th) – 18-13 (35th), 20-16 (40th), 25-18 (45th), 28-22 (50th), 32-25 (55th), 36-26 (60th)
SC Magdeburg: Hernandez (11 saves), Mandic; Claar 6, Zechel, Kristjansson 4, Pettersson 7, Magnusson 5/3, Hornke, Jonsson 4, Weber 2, Lagergren 4, Mertens, Saugstrup 2, O’Sullivan, Barthold 2, Bergendahl
Sharjar SC: Al Taher (10 saves), Alsaadi (2 saves); Abdalla, Radwan 11, Almheiri, Al Ali, Rashed 2, Almaazmi 3, Sanai 1, Alansaari, Elrefaay 1, Aldhanhani 1, Ayari 5, Soliman, Zaid 2, Abdelqadir
