Excellent Mørk leads Larvik past Metz

Nora Mørk’s scored 11 goals and paved the way for Larvik to their first victory in the new season as they beat Metz Handball 25:20 in Group D on Saturday.

GROUP D
Larvik HK (NOR) vs Metz Handball (FRA) 25:20 (11:11)

A small mishap with Arena Larvik’s scoreboard meant that the game started with a seven minute delay. While both teams tried several warming up exercises, the French stayed strong psychologically and started the game excellent, dictating the tempo.

But the French champions found a motivated opponent in Nora Mørk. The unconventional right back – who is only 1.67m tall – scored six of Larvik’s first seven goals.

However, it was not enough, as Metz was excellent in attack. The French 9 meter line was nearly perfect, Gros and Zaadi defeating Toft quite easily, therefore Metz managed to create a two-goal lead in the 20th minute, 9:7.

A well-taken timeout by Larvik’s coach launched a comeback of the 2011 EHF Champions League winners as they tied the half-time scored, 11:11.

After the break, Mørk continued her brilliant play both as a scorer and as a provider, beating the French defence by herself in an excellent efort.

No matter the defence system tried by the French side, a traditional 6-0 or a more unconventional 5-1 or 4-2, Larvik had the answer in attack and after a flawless run which extended over a 11-minute period, the Norwegian side took a commanding 6-goal lead, 18:12.

A late surge of French champions inspired Zaadi, Baudouin and Andryushina turned the game into a two-goal affair, 18:16, with 12 minutes left, but Larvik’s experience decided the winner.

When it mattered the most, Riegelhuth, Blanco and Hammerseng took over the game, while Mørk scored her 11th goal of the evening to seal off the win in the dying minutes of the match.