04.04.2007, 11:50
Slagelse take first step towards Danish title

Eventhough the EHF CL competition has not yet reached its conclusion, Slagelse DT are looking to secure their place in the competition in the coming season with their performance in the national league.

Slagelse take first step towards Danish title

Champions League semi-finalists Slagelse DT took the first step towards winning the Danish championship and thereby making sure to be in the Champions League next year too. The team won their first leg of the semi-finals of the championship play-off (34:29) at home against EHF Cup semi-finalists Ikast Bording EH.

After an equal first half, which ended 18:18, the 1480 spectators in Antvorskovhallen in Slagelse saw the home team open the second half by scoring six goals in succession and taking the lead 24:18. And even though Ikast managed to climb a little closer, as the second half progressed, the visitors never managed to close the gap.

Anja Andersen not completely satisfied

"Actually, we only carried out our counterattacks during the phase of the second half, where we took the deciding lead. Furthermore we did allow Ikast to score at least 9 goals more, than we should have!” Slagelse coach Anja Andersen summed up the match afterwards.

"However, winning a championship semi-final by five goals is acceptable, I suppose, and I definitely expect us to decide the matter in the second match. Three matches in the semi-finals would not be acceptable to me!" added Andersen.

Second leg Friday

Bojana Popovic scored amazing 14 goals for Slagelse, who will be travelling to Ikast Friday for the second match - and due to the system that the Danish championship play-offs are played under, Ikast will only need a one goal win to get a third match, but here Slagelse will have the home advantage again. A draw or a further Slagelse win will send Anja Andersen’s team to the finals.

Here the opponent will be one of the two teams, who were sent out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals - Viborg HK or Aalborg DH. In this semi-final tie Viborg won 32:28 at home against Aalborg – a team currently plagued by injury.

TEXT: Peter Bruun