FC Midtjylland finish Group B in top position

Having lost only one match in the Women's EHF Champions League Group Phase this season, Danish FC Midtjylland had already qualified for the competition's main after five rounds, however, a confident 37:26 win against MKS Lublin on Sunday also secured them the top spot in Group B.

With zero points on their account, Lublin had forfeited all chances to advance, but even though there might have been little at stake in this particluar match, both teams took to the court visibly eager to give it all they have what resulted in a powerful and fast way.

Group B

FC Midtjylland (DEN) vs MKS Selgros Lublin (POL) 37:26 (20:13)

Ikast, Denmark

"For us it was no meaningless match because we needed one more point to finish on top of the group. Considering that we won the last match against Lublin by one goal (25:24) we knew that we had to be very focused today," Midtjylland's goalkeeper Sabine Englert said.

"It was important for us to show a good performance today before we have a break of three weeks. We’re really satisfied with our eleven-goal victory."

FC Midtjylland quickly took a 4:0 lead and forced MKS Lublin head coach to take an early timeout after not even five minutes had been played. 

While the Polish side was not able to considerably close the gap, the enforced break still served like a wake-up call and amore agressive Lublin suddenly showed some resistance against the Danish game.

Lublin narrowed the score to 7:4, but that is as close as they got.

The hosts powered away to 14:5 and despite MKS Lublin showing some impressive fighting and team spirit, the victory for the Danish national champions was never really threatened.

Right back Line Anna Jörgensen played a great match, scoring nine goals and she also did a good job in the defence where goalkeeper Sabine Englert made the Lublin attach look desperate at times.

"Well, I had a lot of space in today's match. And we scored many fast break goals. I just keep going and also have a lot of good teammates. Today we scored 37 goals, and there has to be somebody, who scores the goals," says Jörgensen.

It should go unnoticed that MKS Lublin were missing two key players as Kristina Repelewska is pregnant and Edyta Danielczuk was forced to end her career because of health problems.

"Of course, it is hard to be satisfied considering that we have no points on our account. But at least we gained experience. That’s what we got from these six matches," summarised Lublin head coach Sabina Wlodek.

Midtjylland went into half-time at 20:13 and after five minutes had been played in the second half, they had taken a 10-goal lead which they never gave away, finally taking home a 37:26 victory.

FC Midtjylland had also reached the EHF Champions League Main Round in the 2011/12 and the 2008/09 season. Their best result to date is a semi-final berth in the 2002/03 season.

The draw for the main round will take place on 19 November at the EHF Office in Vienna.

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This article was written as part of the EHF Young Reporter workshop in Aarhus. For the first time the EHF will have a team of young reporters working at the Men's European Championship 2014 in Denmark in January working alongside the EHF Media Team.