26.02.2017, 06:50
Esbjerg inflict another away defeat on FCM

GROUP 2 REVIEW: Esbjerg secure second win of main round as FCM second-half comeback falters.

Esbjerg inflict another away defeat on FCM

Esbjerg held on to a first-half lead to pick up their second win of the Women's EHF Champions League Main Round with a 22:21 win over Danish rivals FC Midtjylland.

• FCM have not won any away games this season
• Esbjerg are last, with four points, while FCM are third, with eight points, one more than CSM
• FCM will host Larvik next Saturday in a pivotal game for the group’s final rankings

GROUP 2

Team Esbjerg (DEN) vs FC Midtjylland (DEN) 22:21 (14:11)

They might not have acknowledged it publicly, but the games against Esbjerg have been personal for FC Midtjylland this season, following the loss of the Danish title after a seven-metre shootout against their rivals.

But no game could be more important than Sunday’s, with FCM eyeing a quarter-final berth and battling Larvik for second place in the group.

However, FCM needed to achieve an elusive away win in order to achieve their goals. Unlike the first leg of the Danish match-up, which they won comfortably, this game was no walk in the park.

It soon became clear that at least the first half was going to be a scrappy affair, with both teams going back and forth.

FCM scored the first goal of the game, but Esbjerg dominated the first half, as Laura van der Heijden and Jenny Alm were in scoring mood.

The Danish champions kept the pedal to the metal until the end of the half, retiring with a 14:11 lead.

Esbjerg comeback earns victory

It took only 10 minutes for FCM to undo all the hard work done by Esbjerg in the first half. A five-goal run brought them in front by two goals.

But Esbjerg, forgetting about their injury woes, managed a huge comeback, playing their best handball this season.

With a tough defence and a great Alm in attack, the hosts took the lead. FCM had no answers for much of the fourth quarter and a late run of three goals was not enough to take the win they needed.

Esbjerg celebrated a 22:21 victory, their first group stage win since beating RK Krim Mercator 35:25 in round 1.

TEXT: Adrian Costeiu / jh