Sävehof power past Lublin with biggest win ever

IK Sävehof earn their biggest ever win, 34:21, in the Women’s EHF Champions League at MKS Selgros Lublin, grabbing two badly needed points after consective defeats in the first two rounds.

Both Lublin and Sävehof had no real chance in their previous matches, against CSM Bucuresti and Buducnost. So after two painful defeats, they were both looking to keep their chances of a main round berth alive.

GROUP D
MKS Selgros Lublin (POL) vs IK Sävehof (SWE) 21:34 (10:17)

The Swedish side, the youngest and the least experienced in this year’s European premium competition, forgot about last week’s drubbing against CSM Bucuresti and their strength in attack simply couldn't be matched by Lublin.

It was a blistering start from the guests, who gunned to a 7:1 lead after only seven minutes, punishing their counterparts’ misses with perfectly-timed counterattacks.

Krystsina Repelewska and Marta Gega’s efforts to turn the game on its head were soon deemed unsuccessful. Sävehof rose up to the challenge and never looked back, as Lublin could not get closer than five goals in the closing minutes of the first half.

The Polish side failed to close the gap in the second part. Their 43% shot efficiency was clearly not enough for Lublin to succeed and the hosts went to record their worst defeat this season.

Sävehof cruised to their best ever victory in the European flagship competition, six goals better than their 30:23 win against Leipzig in November 2013.

Four Swedish players led the charge for Sävehof during the game, but Joanna Lindvall-Haggren was Sävehof’s top scorer with six goals, followed closely by Emma Ekkerman-Fernis, Louise Sand and Julia Eriksson with five each.

Lublin will have to match Sävehof’s win next week in the game’s replay, but will have a mountain to climb in order to proceed to the next round.