Third successive win puts Larvik in main round
Larvik are ready for the main round of the Women’s EHF Champions League after winning 38:32 away against IK Sävehof on Sunday afternoon.
The result means that RK Krim Mercator are also qualified for the main round before the last day of matches in this phase.
• Larvik record third successive win in the Champions League group matches
• Amanda Kurtovic scores 11 and Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren adds 10 goals for Larvik, while Louise Sand tallies eight for Sävehof
• Sävehof still have a chance to reach the main round with an away win against Team Esbjerg next Sunday
GROUP D
IK Sävehof (SWE) vs Larvik (NOR) 32:38 (14:21)
Larvik opened their Champions League campaign with two successive defeats, but the Norwegian side are now sure to qualify for the main round even before their last group phase match against RK Krim Mercator, who are also in the main round after Sunday’s result.
Larvik earned their third win in a row in Partille Arena on Sunday afternoon, and are therefore on six points alongside Krim.
Dangerous Larvik backs
Sävehof head coach Henrik Signell found it necessary to call two time-outs within the first 14 minutes of Sunday’s game, as Larvik were up 12:7 after an extremely high-scoring start.
The home team had particular problems with Larvik backs Amanda Kurtovic and Alina Wojtas, and, as the first half progressed, also with right wing Riegelhuth Koren. The three of them scored 17 of Larvik’s 21 goals in the first 30 minutes.
Seven-against-six costs four goals
At the beginning of the second half, Larvik’s seven-against-six tactic cost them four goals as Sävehof reduced the half-time distance to 18:21. But after a time-out, during which Larvik coach Tor Odvar Moen abandoned this tactic, the visitors began to dominate again.
Even a red card after three two-minute suspensions for Gro Hammerseng-Edin early in the second half did not bother Larvik, and the guests led by nine goals before Sävehof reduced the deficit a bit toward the end.
While Larvik and Krim are ready for the main round, the last ticket will be decided between Team Esbjerg and Sävehof when the two teams meet in Esbjerg next Sunday.
TEXT: Peter Bruun / cg
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