A Tale of Goal Scorers

Both are left backs. Both are natural scorers. But last year’s top goal scorer title was not enough, and only one of them could win the Women’s EHF Champions League trophy – and in 2015 it was Cristina Neagu, with Buducnost. 

Neagu and Andrea Penezic are two of the most coveted players in Europe’s top club competition, with unearthly shots that keep goalkeepers guessing their clear trademark. 

But before they face each other in Skopje on Sunday, the two stalwarts took a moment to talk about their teams, their opponents and facing each other for the sixth time in the last two years in what appears to have become a classic rivalry. 

ehfCL.com: You finished last season as the top goal scorers in the Women’s EHF Champions League. What does a player need in order to become one of the best in the world?

Cristina Neagu: Handball is a team game, so you can’t be a very good player, the best one in your position, if you do not have good teammates. No matter how good you are, you will not be the best! 

Also, you need a ton of work. Being talented is, of course, a bonus, but without proper training, without being relentless and professional, you are not able to get to the top. I can’t say whether work counts 70% or 80%, but I know that work trumps talent.

Andrea Penezic: A leader will always be a player that takes more responsibility in the nip and tuck situations. But being a leader and one of the best players in the position has its downside. You have big responsibility, and the other players will always look up to you. Fortunately, our team and every big team in Europe has at least two or three players that can fill this role. 

ehfCL.com: Buducnost and HC Vardar are perennial contenders in the top European competition. How would you describe your opponent?

Cristina Neagu: Where should I start? We have played against them only last month, so we know them very well. Vardar are a powerhouse – they have proved that time and time again in the last seasons, as they have reached the FINAL4 in the last two years. 

However, they did not win against us and we intend to keep it that way, even if the atmosphere in Skopje will be fiery.

Andrea Penezic: It is hard to say something about Buducnost that hasn’t been mentioned before. Winning so many games in the last two years… They really proved they are a great squad. On top of that, I think I am not mistaken to say that they have the best defence in the competition, which makes it really hard to play against them. 

Buducnost have also developed a great system so that every player fits well there. They play smart and with lot of discipline in offence. However, this means that their game depends on their stars: Neagu, Cvijic or Bulatovic. Stop them and you have a chance.

ehfCL.com: You shared the top goal scorer trophy last year. What do you think about your counterpart?

Cristina Neagu: Well, scoring at least 100 goals in the Women’s EHF Champions League, has to say something, right? I know her very well, played against her many times. She is a back who likes to score, with a very powerful shot, hard to defend against. She does everything well in attack, can be versatile, but also deadly if you give her space. 

Andrea Penezic: It is hard to think of some weak sides of Neagu, because it is hard to negate that she is the best player in the world right now. I have followed her since she moved to Buducnost and she improved a lot in the past two years. 

Neagu is the engine of the team, therefore the current title holders are depending a lot on her. But what impressed me the most was her performance in last year’s World Championship. She was from another planet, making even the hardest shots look easy. A class ahead of everyone else!

ehfCL.com: Would you trade winning the top goal scorer title for winning the whole competition?

Cristina Neagu: We both had a great season. But this title would have meant little to me if it had not been for me winning the first Champions League title in my career. It meant the world to me. I came close twice and was determined not to let it slip again. I think I did not realize what had happened for several days, I was immersed in euphoria. Therefore, there’s your answer: of course!

Andrea Penezic: Let me tell you something about last year’s title. Cristina was leading the ranking last season and I wasn’t even aware that I tied with her until someone from the EHF staff told me that we both scored 102 goals and we will share the position. 

It was an amazing feeling to achieve this in the Champions League and this is definitely a big thing in every player’s career. But, if you ask me, I would definitely trade an individual for a team title.

ehfCL.com: You’ve both said that the matches you played against each other were special. What was the most memorable game?

Cristina Neagu: Buducnost vs Vardar is slowly becoming an instant classic in the Champions League. We’ve faced each other five times in the last two years, with everything to play for every time. So these are games played with pride and passion, where every team fights until the end. 

Of course, we came undefeated every time, but do not let the results fool you – Vardar is a great team. 

Andrea Penezic: It is hard to mention one particular match, but let’s say that I still remember last year’s drubbing that we received from Buducnost in the semi-final in Budapest. We were beaten by 10 goals, so I hope that the scenario is a one-and-done thing.

ehfCL.com: What do you think it will be decisive in this Sunday’s game between Vardar and Buducnost?

Cristina Neagu: We have already set a standard and made a name because of our defence. So I think, definitely, that we have to continue to execute in the defense. We allowed only 19 goals in the first leg so we are focused on keeping that line open. 

Of course, that win will mean nothing if we lose in Skopje, so we are prepared, focused and ready to win again.

Andrea Penezic: Losing the first leg was an eye-opener for us. If we want to stand a chance, we have to play differently than we did in Podgorica. I do believe that we have managed to strengthen our squad and right now we are more disciplined, understanding each other better in both phases on the field. We are also in better shape than in the first part of the season and more hopeful that we will perform better.

ehfCL.com: Who is the opponent who could defeat your team on the way to the title?

Cristina Neagu: Buducnost has enjoyed one of the greatest periods in this competition’s history in the last two years. However, everything must come to an end, so our unbeaten streak ended in Gyor in January. I think they were the toughest opponent we met during this stretch. And I think they are the ones who can stop us, because they are very intelligent and well-coached, with a very astute defence.

Andrea Penezic: We have a really balanced competition this year, with several teams that are able to reach the final. This means that everything is possible and even Buducnost is not unbeatable, as it was shown by their defeat in Gyor. We have also seen that Rostov and HCM Baia Mare are doing great in the other group, so everything is possible.