Injuries hinder Győri Audi ETO's final preparation

Despite being goal-rich and with several eye-catching variations to their attacks throughout this year, the Hungarian champions’ Achilles heel is their defensive line.

It was only thanks to some great goalkeeping from Katrine Lunde Haraldsen that Győr were able to win last Saturday (5 May) over their Montenegrin counterparts in the first-leg tie of the EHF Women's Champions League Final. But the victory was only a narrow one as the team's defence was far from rock-solid.

Defensive specialist Àgnes Hornyák suffered a shoulder injury and coach Karl Erik Bøhn only used the right-back in defence, but she was unable to stop Budućnost's awesome sharpshooter Bojana Popović. Heidi Løke and Jovanka Radičević also tried to defend against the top striker, but all of them failed and Popović scored almost at will.

Insiders are expecting Anikó Kovacsics to act as a possible man-marker if the Hungarians use their 5-1 formation. The young and gifted player has been strong at that position through the season, but received little chance to show what she can do in the first tie.

Former national team coach László Laurencz was also heavily critical of the Hungarian defence, saying: "Győr only have two players with top defensive skills, they`re Eduarda Amorim and Àgnes Hornyák."

The latter will be a doubt for the return tie in Podgorica, just like left-winger Orsolya Vérten who suffered a thigh strain in the team's clash on Wednesday for the Hungarian league title against Ferencváros.

In that game on home soil the Hungarian title-holder conceded 21 goals in the first period, which left fans and coaching staff alike stunned.

"Our defence was horrid in the first period and we played very slowly in attack," said disappointed coach Bøhn.

The Norwegian trainer added: "With tall player Szimonetta Planéta we tightened the defence, and this boosted the confidence of the players. With great fighting spirit and hard work we won the second half by eight goals, and this gives us hope ahead of the return match in Podgorica."

If the rumours are true, the Hungarians might face massive defensive problems on Sunday. However, with the possibilities that their squad gives the coach they might well surprise in Montenegro.

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