Issy heading for first European title

Issy Paris Hand are heading for the first European triumph in history after their 21:19 away win against H 65 Höör in the first leg of the Women´s Challenge Cup final.

The result in Southern Sweden obviously gives the French team an extremely good chance ahead of the return match in Paris next Saturday.

H 65 Höör (SWE) vs Issy Paris Hand (FRA) 19:21 (8:11)

Neither team has won a European Cup tournament before, but after the Saturday match in Björvikshallen in Höör, Issy Paris Hand seems to be the team with the best chances to take the first title.

The two goal win in Southern Sweden obviously puts the French team in a fine position to take the title in the second leg at home next Saturday.

Paris got the far better start in the intense atmosphere in the small hall which was sold out for the match. The visitors soon took a 5:0 lead which was increased to 7:1, but after a team timeout, Höör slowly started to get into the match, and at half time the hosts had managed to reduce the distance to three goals at 11:8.

From the start of the second half, the home team continued their improving form and got ahead by17:15 with 13 minutes left.

However, Paris got back again, and four unanswered goals gave them a 19:17 lead, and at the end the French side could also take a two goal win with them home.

“After our poor start, we played a good game, and I am content with the fact that me managed to rise and get back into the game against a very strong team,” Höör coach Niklas Harris told eurohandball.com.

“Before the first match I saw our chances for the overall win as being 30:70, when it comes to percentages. Now it is probably 20:80. However, we are quite good at playing away, so we have not given up yet,” Niklas Harris added.

Höör's Danish centre back Mia Rej was most scoring player in the match with six goals. Issy had their most scoring player in right wing Lesly Briemant with five goals.

Photo: Nils-Ake Akesson