Houette stays cool to seal Metz victory

A penalty goal from returning left wing Manon Houette secured Metz Handball a 25:24 in a thriller at home against a well-organised and battling Buducnost side on Sunday afternoon

• Manon Houette returned from injury to decide the match
• former Metz goalkeeper Marina Rajcic had a disappointing return to her old home court
• Xenia Smits scored seven goals for Metz, Cristina Lazlo and Djudjina Jaukovic five each for Buducnost
• Metz remain undefeated, now with five points, while Buducnost stay on two

GROUP A
Metz Handball (FRA) vs Buducnost (MEN) 25:24 (8:11)

Left wing Manon Houette returned from an injury break just in time to decide the thriller in Les Arenes in Metz.

As her team were awarded a penalty at the score 24:24 with less than 10 seconds left, Houette came on from the bench and converted the penalty to secure her team a win, which was as narrow as it was hard-fought.

An aggressive and obviously well-prepared Buducnost defence caused Metz trouble from the start.

In the visitors’ goal, Marina Rajcic, who played in Metz the previous three years, also contributed to making life hard for her former teammates.

Buducnost were leading throughout the low-scoring first half, holding a three-goal lead at half time.

Metz’s attacking play was considerably more efficient after the break, and already six minutes into the second half Laura Flipps give the home team their first lead at 14:13.

Buducnost managed to hang in, though, and N’Gouan won the final penalty, put away by Houette.