Sävehof sail into main round with victory over Lublin
After a painful loss one week ago, MKS Selgros Lublin arrived in Sweden with a sole objective. Only a win would have kept the Polish team in genuine contention for a main round berth.
Apart from the beginning of both halves, Lublin could not maintain their rhythm and slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat in the Women's EHF Champions League.
GROUP D:
Sävehof IK (SWE) vs MKS Selgros Lublin (POL) 27:24 (14:11)
It was a perfect storm that took Sävehof by surprise on Friday. Fresh from one of the most painful defeats in the club's history, the Polish side turned it around in Sävehof.
Lublin got off to a very good start leading 6:3, after Sävehof failed to find an answer for the Polish side's superior attacking play.
Sävehof however reproduced their 7:1 run from the week before, sparked on this occasion by Julia Eriksson, who put the hosts back in charge, 10:7.
Aware that a defeat would leave their chances of progression hanging by a thread, Lublin returned to the court after half-time a reinvigorated side.
The Swedes ssaw their three-goal advantage from half time, 14:11, soon vanish. Lublin’s backcourt, crafty veteran Iwona Niedzwiedz, led the charges and the guests were leading 18:17 in the 40th minute.
But a no-nonsense approach by Sävehof proved to be decisive for the Swedish side.
The youngest team in the competition managed the final part of the game much better than their Polish opposition and won 27:24.
Julia Eriksson was Sävehof’s top scorer, with eight goals, while the team’s most experienced player, Stine Lund Andreassen, scored six times.
Lublin’s best player was Iwona Niedzwiedz, with eight goals.
The Swedish champions are one of the first two teams to officially earn their place in the main round alongside Buducnost, while Lublin need a miracle to proceed.
The Polish side will have to reverse their loss against CSM Bucuresti, 21:33, from the first round, and beat Buducnost in Moraca.
TEXT: Adrian Costeiu / gs
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