12.04.2013, 05:00
Metz and Holstebro need to finish the job

Preview of the Women´s EHF Cup Semi-final, second leg

Metz and Holstebro need to finish the job

Metz Handball and Team Tvis Holstebro are clear favourites to meet in the final of the Women´s EHF Cup. That is the indisputable fact before the second leg of the semi-finals.

Metz are practically through, taking a 19 goal lead with them to the return match against HC Zalau in Romania, while Holstebro should also be able to defend their seven goal lead, as they even have the home advantage in the all-Danish clash with FC Midtjylland.

Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) vs. FC Midtjylland (DEN)
Saturday 13 April, 16:00 hrs local time
First leg: 29:22

Having won 29:22 away, Team Tvis Holstebro are obvious favourites for the aggregate win before the home game against their rivals in the top of the Danish league FC Midtjylland.

Even though home and away does not mean all that much with 40 kilometers between the venues, Holstebro are expected to make it all clear Saturday.

A knee injury by Danish international Louise Burgaard will be a serious handicap to the Holstebro team, though. The Danish international may be out for the season with a suspected ligament injury, and under all circumstances she is not likely to play Saturday.

“That is the way the game is, and that only means that we will have to fight even more. Seven goals is not a lot in handball, so we definitely go for a win in the second match too. Midtjylland should be given as much as a millimeter in the Gråkjær Arena, Holstebro left winger and top scorer in the tournament, Ann-Grete Nørgaard told eurohandball.com.

HC Zalau (ROU) vs. Metz Handball (FRA)
Sunday 14 April, 18:00 hrs local time
First leg: 15:34

It would be rather bold to predict an intense fight about the ticket for the final, considering the fact that the visitors arrive with 19 goal lead in the hand from the first leg.

34:15 said the score board in Les Arenes de Metz after the first leg, so the winners of the French league are more than close to the final before entering the Sport Hall Zalau Sunday evening for the second meeting with Romania´s number four.

This does not mean that Metz take the match in Romania lightly. At least not according to goalkeeper Gervaise Pierson, who impressed with a saving percentage of 50 in the first match.

“We should not rest on our laurels, but concentrate and take the match seriously,” Pierson told Metz Handball´s official website.

Whether her team will live up to Pierson´s expectation or not can be watched live on ehfTV.com where the match of Metz on the court of the last year finalists will be streamed.

Photo: Jens Anton Nordestgaard

TEXT: Peter Bruun / br