Oden refuses to count goals before Zagreb showdown

No less than ten goals came from Ida Oden's right hand, as IK Sävehof got their first point in their current Women's EHF Champions League campaign through the 29:29 draw at home against HC Lokomotiva Zagreb in Group C on Friday.

With those ten goals, the 27-year-old Swedish international doubled her number of goals in the Champions League this season, and with 20 goals she is third in the top scorers' list of the tournament. This does not mean all that much to her, though.

“No, it really does not matter to me, as I find it more important to do well for Sävehof. As for my ten goals against Lokomotiva, I was just extremely keen and eager to win that match,” Oden explains towards ehfCL.com.

As we all know, she and her teammates did not win the match which ended in a draw. Probably a bit less than the Swedish champions had expected, but in Oden's opinion an acceptable result, considering the way the match turned out.

“It was a really tough game, but also fun to play. We had to work very hard, and we never really got our game working, so considering the fact that we were lying behind most of the time, I actually think it was okay for us to land one point at the end,” says Oden who is used to playing on the right back position by Sävehof, and often in the Swedish national team too, despite being right handed.

Draw can turn out to be important

As Györi Audi ETO KC and Viborg HK appear to be out of reach in Group C, Sävehof and Lokomotiva seem to be left to fight for the third place and the last position in the main round.

In that respect, the point Sävehof got on Friday may turn out to be very important, finds Ida Oden.

“Our goal is obviously to be among the best three in the group and proceed to the main round. In this connection, the draw on Friday may be crucial, but of course, it will be extremely important for us to make a good performance in Zagreb on Sunday,” she realises.

“It is going to be great fun to play in Zagreb on Sunday, though. I do not think we got to our full capacity in the first match against them, we missed too many opportunities and made too many mistakes. If we can improve in those areas in the match down there, I think we have all chances to take two points. I am hoping for a tough match with a great atmosphere!”

Last season, Sävehof reached the main round for the first time in their Champions League history, and having got that far, they made a couple of impressive results.

In the meantime, the club has lost several players who were key players back then, so what can Sävehof dream of now?

“As I said, our goal is to be among the best three teams in the group who qualify for the main round. Right now, that is all we are dreaming of,” emphasises Oden, who scored her career best 69 goals in the previous season.