13 goals from Breistøl not enough for Larvik
Rostov-Don are still undefeated in Group A, but they had to work hard before they could take a 26:25 win at home against Larvik.
HCM Baia Mare left no doubt about their Women’s EHF Champions League Main Round berth by defeating RK Krim Mercator 35:28 at home.
GROUP A
Rostov-Don (RUS) vs Larvik (NOR) 26:25 (15:14)
13 goals from 22-year-old left back Kristine Breistøl as well as five saved penalty shots from Sandra Toft was not enough for a Larvik win in Russia.
The visitors had the chance to secure a win with 32 seconds left, but Breistøl sent a shot over the crossbar.
Larvik were missing the twin sisters Nora and Thea Mørk as well as Anja Hammerseng-Eding and Tine Stage due to injury, alongside long-term injured Alina Wojtas and pregnant Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren.
Therefore, the visitors only had 11 names on their team roster for the match, but still they managed to keep up with Rostov-Don almost all the way.
After an equal first half ended with a one-goal lead for Rostov-Don, the home team seemed to be creating a decisive lead in the second half as they went ahead by five goals at 22:17 and 23:18.
However, Larvik managed to get back into the game, and with her 13 goals, Breistøl equalised with 25:25 with four minutes and 50 seconds left.
Rostov-Don went ahead again, but had to play the last minute and 32 seconds one player down.
Still, the home team took the win in the end with Breistøl missing the last penalty.
Rostov-Don still have maximum points after five matches, while Larvik are second with six points.
HCM Baia Mare (ROU) vs RK Krim Mercator (SLO) 35:28 (16:14)
Baia Mare are ready for the main round for the second season in succession after their clear home win against Krim in the Sala Polivalenta Lascar Pana, but for parts of the match, they had to work for their ticket to the next stage.
Baia Mare were looking like they were going to run over their opponents from the start, as they went up 6:1 and 7:2.
However, the visitors struck back and reduced the deficit to only one goal at 13:12, and at half-time the gap was still only at one goal.
Baia Mare more or less decided the matter at the beginning of the second half, though, as they won the first seven and a half minutes after the break 5:0, thus, increasing their lead to 21:14.
Later in the half, Baia Mare were leading by eight goals several times before winning by seven.
The French playmaker Allison Pineau scored nine and right back Melinda Geiger got seven goals for Baia Mare, who are now with four points after five matches.
For the second Champions League match in succession, the Bulgarian centre back Elizabeth Omoregie was top scorer for Krim - who are still on zero points.
The 19-year-old Omoregie scored 10 goals this time around and she commented after the match: "I don't know why we lost this game by so much; maybe it was the start of the second half. I think we need more time to find our real form, this teams is very young still."
TEXT: Peter Bruun / bc
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