Györ in quarter-final despite temporary scare

Györ removed the last theoretical doubt about their quarter-final participation, as the double Champions League winners defeated Metz Handball 31:27 in Györ’s Audi Arena on Saturday.

Metz suffered their third defeat in a row in the main round, but not without the French champions worrying the hosts at some point.

Metz managed to put Györ under pressure by only being one goal down ten minutes into the second half, but the Hungarian favourites overcame the crisis to take a clear win.

Women’s EHF Champions League Group 2
Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) vs Metz Handball (FRA) 31:27 (15:11)

The visitors kept in contact with Györ in the opening exchanges, with the score level at 3:3.

From then on, the favourites took the expected distance which was five goals at 13:8, when it was at its highest

Ana Gros made a tremendous effort to keep Metz in the game, but not even six goals from the Slovenian right back were enough to save the visitors from going into the dressing rooms four goals down at half-time.

Györ seemed to be heading for an early decision and with the second half barely started, the two-time champions were six goals up.

There was a twist in the tale as five Metz goals in a row reduced the Györ lead from 19:13 to 19:18 and forced coach Ambros Martin to call a time-out.

That time-out seemed to be just what the home team needed. They opened up a four-goal lead and for the rest of the match the favourites left no real doubt as to which team was going to win.

Metz managed to reduce the distance to two goals again, inspired by Gros’ 11-goal haul, but that was as close as they could get.