Hard work for Larvik in Scandinavian derby

Larvik continue to cruise towards the first place in Group 2 of the main round in the Women's EHF Champions League, but the favourites had to work pretty hard in the Scandinavian derby away against IK Sävehof, before their 25:20 win was a fact.

GROUP 2

IK Sävehof (SWE) vs Larvik HK (NOR) 20:25 (11:13)

Larvik were clear favourites in Partillebohallen by Gothenburg on Friday evening, but Sävehof gave the top team of the group a good fight, before Larvik could head home to Norway with a 25:20 win which still puts them clear on top of the group, while Sävehof will have to struggle to reach the quarter-finals.

The underdogs got the better start, as the home team opened by taking a 4:1 lead, partly thanks to two early two minute suspensions for Larvik.

An aggressive Sävehof defence in front of a well-playing Johanna Bundsen in goal continued to make life hard for Larvik's attacking players, though, and it took the favourites 16 minutes to get ahead at 7:6.

Larvik's main weapon against the offensive Sävehof defence was passes to Marit Malm Frafjord on the line, but still, the visitors were not able to shake off their opponents before the half-time buzzer, at which point Larvik were leading by two goals.

At the beginning of the second half, Larvik seemed to be going to decide the matter by taking an early couple of four-goal leads, but once again, Sävehof were able to strike back and equalise several times.

At the end, the heroic efforts were not enough for the home team.

A saving percentage of 52 for Larvik keeper Sandra Toft helped the guests to go from 19:19 to 24:19 which decided the match and finally allowed the many Larvik fans in the arena to sing “The victory is ours”.