Valcea on good way to the final

Semifinal, first leg:

Audi ETO Györ - Oltchim Valcea 25:25 (14:15)

Oltchim Valcea is close to the biggest success on international level: After reaching a draw in the boiling pot of Györ, the Romanian champion only need a success with a one goal difference on home soil next Sunday in the second leg of the semis. And as Oltchim didn’t give one single point when playing at home this season the chances are quite good to reach the Champions League final after the 25:25 (15:14) in Györ.

The first leg of the semis was totally equal, even as Valcea was in lead most of the second half. After the 13:12 in minute 26 the Romanians turned the game despite the great support of the Györ spectators and led 15:14 at the break. Thanks to a strong defense and five goals of Puscasu the Romanians were the better ones in the second half even as Györ's Brazil player Amorim scored six times and became the top scorer of the match. But as Györ could count on the saves of goalkeeper Katalin Palinger Valcea couldn’t extend the lead – in contrast: After the 14:17 the Hungarians scored a series of 6:0 goals and went ahead with 20:17. Two minutes before the end the score was 25:23 for Valcea, but then a two minutes suspension gave Györ the chance to equalize. Six seconds before the end the score was 25:25 after the goals of Amorim and Kovaczics, the last Valcea attack was blocked by the Györ defense.

In the group phase Györ had beaten Valcea 26:22 on home soil after the Romanians had won against the last season’s finalist with the same result in the first match.“We’re close to the final despite a lot of mistakes. But the girls know how to go on now,” Valcea coach Radu Voina said: “The whole match was imprinted by defense.”

In the first leg of the first semifinal Viborg had beaten Larvik 27:21 on Saturday. Last season Viborg and Valcea met in the semis and Viborg and Györ had met in the finals– with the better end for the Danes both times, maybe those teams will meet again this season. Viborg and Valcea remain the best teams in the current CL season with three defeats in 13 matches.