CSM earn tough win against Vipers
With a team in turmoil, a coaching change and in dire need of a direction, CSM snatched a 29:27 win against Kristiansand that helped reset their season.
Andrea Lekic and Cristina Neagu combined for 16 goals and were decisive in CSM’s win, their second of the group, which sees them top until Sunday, when Bietigheim host FTC.
Dragan Djukic, CSM’s coach, had only two days and one training session, but earned his first win on the Romanian side’s bench.
· CSM are on four points, while Vipers are last in the group, with only one point
· Lekic was the game’s top scorer with nine goals, while Neagu took her tally this season to 27 goals with seven on the night
· Linn Jorum Sulland had a superb effort for Vipers, with eight goals
GROUP D
Vipers Kristiansand (NOR) vs CSM Bucuresti (ROU) 27:29 (14:14)
There was a showdown between Linn Jorum Sulland and Cristina Neagu in the first ten minutes of the game, but it was Vipers who had the upper hand, with a 5:2 lead.
As CSM’s defence continued to struggle and Jelena Grubisic failed to make saves, the Norwegian side continued to hold firm.
But a resurgence from Neagu and Andrea Lekic, who combined for ten goals, ushered CSM back into the game. The Romanian side took the lead for the first time in the 28th minute, 13:12, but the two sides were tied at the break, 14:14.
A 7:2 run to start the second half was decisive in CSM’s second win of the season, as they could not be stopped in attack.
CSM’s depth, underlined by Barbara Lazovic’s four goals in the second half, was decisive.
A Vipers comeback, which saw the Norwegian side cut the gap to only one goal, was not enough, as CSM’s offensive prowess, underlined by a 66 per cent scoring efficiency, helped the Romanian side take the 29:27 win.
TEXT:
Adrian Costeiu / cor