Gullden steers CSM to priceless win over Midtjylland

Emerging Romanian giants CSM Bucuresti rallied to earn a precious win over FC Midtjylland in what is shaping up to be a fascinating Group 2 battle for berths in the knockout stage of Europe’s elite club competition.

GROUP 2    

CSM Bucuresti (ROU) vs FC Midtjylland 24:22 (10:12)

The clash between CSM Bucuresti and FC Midtjylland fully lived up to expectations as it produced an enthralling contest between two teams aiming to reach the quarter-finals, with the Romanian side coming out on top after over running their Danish rivals in the last 10 minutes.

The home team’s Swedish dynamo Isabelle Gullden was their top performer with nine goals from 12 shots, as she kept CSM afloat throughout a finely balanced game, in which FCM had the upper hand for long spells.

With a tense finish keeping fans on the edge of their seats, Gullden converted a penalty in the final minute to give Bucuresti an unassailable 24:22 lead and delight a vociferous home crowd.

Having stifled a normally free-flowing Bucuresti attack with ironclad defence, Midtjylland kept nosing ahead in the first half as Johanna Ahlm netted four goals from as many efforts in the opening period.

The home side remained on the back foot for most of the second half and Midtjylland looked likely to spring an upset as they led 19:17 with 10 minutes remaining.

But their offense then came to a screeching halt as backs Stine Jörgensen and Veronica Kristiansen struggled to find a way past CSM’s athletic goalkeeper Mayssa Pessoa, who pulled off a barrage of superb saves when it mattered most.

The unstoppable Gullden, aided by Iulia Curea and Ana Rodrigues, turned the match on its head and CSM never looked back after taking a 23:21 lead with time now running out for the visitors.

FCM fought hard to salvage at least a draw but had little left in the tank in the last few minutes.

The result threw the group wide open, putting CSM level on seven points with leaders Györi Audi ETO KC and Buducnost, who have a game in hand.

Fourth placed HC Vardar have six points, while Midtjylland who are fifth, have five points and a mountain to climb if they are to reach the last eight from a fiercely competitive section.

Curea and Rodrigues scored three goals each for Bucuresti, while Ahlm scored five for Midtjylland and Jörgensen chipped in with four.

Assistant coach of Midtjylland, Kristian Kristenssen, spoke after the match: "First of all I want to congratulate CSM Bucuresti for the victory! We had a tough match, we had a good first half and we entered with a score of only 10 goals against, with plus 2, a good result to take to half time. We made some errors in the second half, but all in all it’s ok, we have minus 2 and we can do better in Denmark!"

Linnea Torstensson from the winning side, Bucuresti, was happy with her team's performance: "I am just happy we won! In the second half we came out believing that we could win, I think we took one step forward and that was very important! The players are getting to know each other better and we can only improve from here."