Budućnost and Győr in the semi-final
No great excitement in any of the Friday matches in the EHF Champions League, as both favourites celebrated away victories and will advance to the Top4, repeating their last year´s success.
GROUP 1
FC Midtjylland (DEN) vs. Győri Audi ETO (HUN) 24:29 (14:17)
Győr´s victory was never in danger, and with their fourth straight win, the Hungarians earned a semi-final berth, whilst FCM lost their last home match, and two away games will await the Danes in the remaining two rounds.
Despite three missed shots by Győri Audi ETO playmaker Anita Görbicz, it was the Hungarians who had the better start, but thanks to the precise distance shots of Linnea Tortensson and Line Jørgensen the Danes kept up the fight and also employed their speedy wingers in counter attacks.
Gitte Brøgger Led´s goal meant a 5:4 lead for the hosts, but coach Karl Erik Bøhn´s team produced some very effective minutes and the hosts only woke up after their coach Ryan Zinglersen was forced to call a time out with Győr leading 9:6.
Centre-back Andrea Lekić scored important goals for the away side, whilst FCM built some nice combinations in attack and fought back bravely through their wing players.
Despite great Danish efforts in a catch-up phase, the Hungarians maintained a three-goal lead at half-time.
Győri Audi ETO returned more relaxed from the cabins, and Bøhn´s team made a 5:0 serie, extending the lead to 22:14 with FCM unable to score for 8 minutes.
Not even an early time out by coach Zinglersen and a goalkeeper change from Sabine Englert to Ingrid Ødegård helped the Scandinavians, as Győr produced a rock-solid defence and stopped FCM´s attackers on the 9 m line.
With Trine Troelsen scoring some nice goals the hosts got fresh wind, but the Hungarians were in a comfortable lead and controlled the second period without problem.
Playmaker Anita Görbicz improved her game play and with her as main director of Győr´s attacks the Hungarians easily extended the lead, whilst FCM again had eight scoreless minutes.
With a clear lead on the scoreboard, Győri Audi ETO coach Bøhn allowed several bench players to collect more EHF Champions League experience.
On the bench, the Balkan duo of Lekić and Jovanka Radičević had already started the fiesta minutes before the final whistle and the party will surely go on into the night, as Győr have reached the semi-final of the prestigious club tournament for the sixth consecutive time.
GROUP 2
RK Krim Mercator (SLO) vs. Budućnost (MNE) 26:27 (9:14)
Despite a close final result, it was a clear win for the Montenegrins who are now through to the semi-final after four matches in the Main Round of the EHF Champions League.
Krim still can dream about a semi-final place, but their fate is not in their own hands, as Romanian Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea is still ranked at position two.
Due to their third rank in the group, and being down by two points to Oltchim, the hosts were forced to give everything from the early minutes onwards, but despite an aggressive defence with man-marking, it was Budućnost´s Maja Savić who scored two straight goals to give her side a quick lead.
Wing player Tamara Mavsar and sharpshooter Gorica Aćimović were trying to keep the hosts in the game, but on the Budućnost side the strong duo of Bojana Popović and Katarina Bulatović scored at will and coach Dragan Adžić´s team established a massive 4 or 5 goal lead that the Montenegrin champions kept throughout the first period.
As in previous matches, goalkeeper Clara Woltering showed atlethic heroics between the posts and with a 40% saving efficiency, the German international provided a great last line of defence for the Montenegrins.
When several goals down, Krim became nervous and made several mistakes in their offensive play, with Budućnost punishing them after almost every lost battle.
The clear five-goal lead at half-time was a good base for the away side to achieve the final result.
Budućnost extended the lead after the break to six goals, but despite some game-plan fluctuations, Krim made a 4:1 serie and Slovenian hopes were back again.
Great support came from the loudly cheering spectators area and coach Tiselj fired up his players from the bench.
In that phase back-court player Andrea Penezić took shooting responsibility and with her goals Krim were highly motivated to level and turn the match.
However, Budućnost´s fluctuations only lasted for a few minutes, as coach Adžić shuffled the cards again.
Former Krim player Dragana Cvijić scored some vital goals to establish a new clear lead for the away side.
Thanks to some great efforts Krim came back twice and their attackers reduced the difference to three goals, and then only two goals, three minutes before the end.
With great concentration and motivation the hosts came as close as one goal in the dying seconds, but the Montenegrin victory had never been in danger.
TEXT: Márk Hegedüs
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