Győri Audi ETO storm into the EHF Women's Champions League final
On Easter Saturday, Hungarian champions Győri Audi ETO romped into the EHF Women's Champions League final after an electrifying return-leg performance steered them to a 31:23 win over rivals Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea in an absorbing semi-final played in a packed Veszprém Arena.
Győri Audi ETO (HUN) vs. C.S. Oltchim Rm. Vâlcea (ROU) 31:23 (19:12)
(first leg: C.S. Oltchim Rm. Vâlcea (ROU) vs. Győri Audi ETO (HUN) 35:31; on aggregate: 62:58 for Győri Audi ETO)
Top scorers were Anita Görbicz (twelve goals) and Adina Meiroșu (four goals). Győri Audi ETO await the outcome of the second semi-final between Budućnost and title-holder Larvik to see who will stand in the way of them and the EHF Women´s Champions League title.
Today's and last weekend's showdowns were a fitting climax to a highly entertaining Main Round which fully lived up to the expectations in terms of entertainment and superior quality of handball on display.
The first half was a story of inspiring, high-goal handball on the home side as the Hungarians played like a Swiss watch, perfectly synchronized and well-rehearsed.
Until minute 17 and the score of 10:7 the fierce duel was close, but then the Romanians could not break through the strong Hungarian defence or missed their chances. The fast Győri Audi ETO players extended the gap easily to seven goals (19:12) in minute 30.
Oltchim, superior last weekend, showed their weakest performance of the last months, had little ideas in attack, lacked pace and missed too many shots to retake the control in this first period.
In the start of the second half the number of technical mistakes increased on the Hungarian side and so the difference between the two teams melted to five goals only. (minute 48)
Oltchim's goalkeeper Luminiţa Dinu-Huţupan showed great heroics between the posts, but Anita Görbicz’s and Andrea Lekić's speed and agility continued to torment the away team’s defense.
In the dying minutes Győri Audi ETO increased the lead again to start the party reverberating around the Veszprém Arena and across Hungary long after the final whistle.
TEXT: Márk Hegedüs
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