Challenger Cup Women: All four advancing teams confirmed after thrilling final day of qualifying action

Nine goals from Nevsehir Belediye SK’s Milana Molnar helped inspire her team to a crucial 14-15 victory against Asten Johnson Strakonice on the final day of the women’s Challenger Cup Qualification Round I. Elsewhere, SSV Esslingen downed Slavia UK Bratislava WP, and Hapoel Emek Hayarden sank ZVU Partizan, as all three winners on Sunday booked their place in the next round alongside London Otter.

Full details of Monday’s men’s and women’s draw for the Challenger Cup Qualification Round II can be found by clicking here.

2025/26 Challenger Cup Women
Qualification Round I
Group Stage, Day 3
Sunday 7 December

Group A
(Strakonice)

SSV Esslingen (GER) 11-5 Slavia UK Bratislava WP (SVK)
Asten Johnson Strakonice (CZE) 14-15 Nevsehir Belediye SK (TUR)

Standings: 1. Esslingen 6pts, 2. Nevsehir 6pts, 3. Bratislava 3pts, 4. Strakonice 3pts

Group B
(Belgrade)

ZVU Partizan (SRB) 5-22 Hapoel Emek Hayarden (ISR)

Standings: 1. Otter 6pts, 2. Hapoel 3pts, 3. ZVU Partizan 0pts

Group A

Standings: 1. Esslingen 6pts, 2. Nevsehir 6pts, 3. Bratislava 3pts, 4. Strakonice 3pts

Asten Johnson Strakonice (CZE) 14-15 Nevsehir Belediye SK (TUR)

The game of the day was undoubtedly the clash between Asten Johnson Strakonice and Nevsehir Belediye SK, which was finally decided in a tension-filled fourth quarter.

Ultimately, it was agony for the Czechs, as they fell by one, despite leading on several occasions, including 13-12 and 14-13 early in the last period.

Nevsehir’s Milana Molnar was the difference, sparkling throughout for the Türks with an outstanding individual display that saw her fire in a triple hat-trick and take her tournament total to 18.

In the first half, Strakonice were up by two (3-1, 4-2, 5-3, 7-5) four times, but Nevsehir refused to let them pull clear and levelled throughout, with the first three quarters all ending even (5-5, 4-4, 3-3).

A brilliant piece of skill from Molnar made it 14-14 with 5:40 remaining in the fourth.

Despite being closely marked, she flicked the ball away from two defenders and the goalkeeper with her foot before slamming it into the empty net for her ninth goal of the game.

Within 35 seconds, Nevsehir were ahead, thanks to a stunning perimeter shot from Türkiye international Betul Berra Haltas that flew into the top corner with 5:05 on the clock.

During a frantic finale, Strakonice had a golden opportunity to equalise with 3:16 left to play when they were awarded a penalty, but Alzbeta Hola’s shot was beaten away by Darya Boykova’s outstretched right hand.

Nevsehir’s defence continued to hold firm until the final buzzer to secure their progression at the expense of the Czechs.

Group A

Standings: 1. Esslingen 6pts, 2. Nevsehir 6pts, 3. Bratislava 3pts, 4. Strakonice 3pts

SSV Esslingen (GER) 11-5 Slavia UK Bratislava WP (SVK)

SSV Esslingen captain Jamie-Julique Haas finished the weekend in style, hammering in five goals against Slavia UK Bratislava WP to take her tournament tally to 10 and secure her side a place in the next round.

After a 1-1 start, the Germans stamped their authority on the game, scoring seven without reply to take full control.

The Slovakians fought back to cut the deficit to four by the end of the third (8-4), but that was as close as they got, with Esslingen opening the fourth with two more goals to end any hopes of a comeback.

With the Germans beating Nevsehir 12-7 on Saturday, this victory was also enough to see Esslingen top the group.

Group B

Standings: 1. Otter 6pts, 2. Hapoel 3pts, 3. ZVU Partizan 0pts

ZVU Partizan (SRB) 5-22 Hapoel Emek Hayarden (ISR)

Hapoel Emek Hayarden took out their frustrations from Saturday’s narrow loss to London Otter by sweeping past ZVU Partizan on Sunday morning.

It was an emphatic response from the Israelis. They dominated the hosts 0-7 in the first quarter and carried that momentum into the second, adding four more without reply to leave no doubt about who would be joining the table-topping Brits in Monday’s draw for the next round.

Partizan finally got on the board with the last two goals of the half – the first from the oldest player in the tournament, Dragana Milicevic (49), and the second from one of the youngest, Anastazija Ilic (15).

The second half followed a similar script, with every Hapoel outfield player making the scoresheet. Yuval Raz led the way with five goals and was closely followed by Mika Koren with four.

Despite two heavy defeats, Partizan can still take plenty of positives from the weekend as they look to build for the future, particularly the 14 goals they scored against Otter on Friday.

It’s clear their youthful squad – featuring several young teenagers and 12-year-old Mila Janicijevic – will only come back stronger.

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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics

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