29.10.2007, 03:12
Sävehof were so close...

The Swedish debutants of the Champions League were close to a huge surprise, but Stefanisin saved a key 7-m shot at the end.

Sävehof were so close...

Even though the Swedish champions are debutants in the Champions League, they showed a superb resistance against the two-time European Champions from Ljubljana. At the end of an interesting match, goalkeeper Sergeja Stefanisin decided the game.

In Partillebohallen, Gothenburg, nobody really expected so much trouble for the Slovenian Champions, Krim Mercator. The Slovenians have many injury problems. Alizar, Golubic and Vergelyuk will not be available for a long time, but Siti, Oder and Kindl also picked up some injuries just one day before the Round 1. On the other side, Sävehof were very active on wings of Theresa Utkovic and Johanna Ahlm.

Unlucky at the end

"Our goalkeepers did not save as many balls as I expected, but I am satisfied with our play," said Sävehof’s coach, Björn Blamquist. He added: "I think we were really good respect to the fact that nobody is professional handball player in our team. We were very close to victory, but luck was on Krim's side at the end. We are not a world famous team, but I promise that we will improve and everyone will get to know Sävehof."

Stefanisin: I knew it

Sävehof were leading only until the 12th minute. After that they were trying to catch Krim. It was very close in the 43rd minute when they equalised at 22:22. Their last chance came in the 60th minute when Theresa Utkovic took her 8th penalty shot of the game. She missed for the first time – or better said, Krim's golakeeper Sergeja Stefanisin saved her shot.

"I knew before going in the goal that I would save her shot. I could have bet on it. And at the end I did it. I’m very happy because we earned our first two – very important – points," said the heroine, Sergeja Stefanisin.

Krim's coach, Bojan Cotar, could also breathe easier after the match:

"I’m happy with my team fighting until the end, but I cannot be happy with other things. With all these injuries we are not the real Krim. I hope it will get better in the future."

TEXT: Maja Mastnak, Sportal (http://sportal.siol.net/default.asp)