After yesterday’s results where Midtjylland beat Thuringer at home, Larvik beat Podravka, Itxako beat Buxtehuder and Randers beat Hypo away, today’s results brought no surprises, and all home teams won their games.
On Day 3 of the second round three highly enjoyable duels took place in the homes of the three teams with the loudest spectators. Full houses in Hungary, Montenegro and Romania led to clear successes for the local teams.
Group A
Budućnost (MNE) vs. Byåsen (NOR) 28:18 (13:7)
No hard task for the Montenegrins, as they clearly outclassed and knocked out Byåsen in a one-sided affair. Coach Dragan Adžić´s team was on form and in top shape in this duel, their defence oozing confidence throughout the match. After an unlucky injury to Ida Alstad in the first period, the Norwegians stood no chance against a dominant Budućnost.
The Montenegrins are now confident going into the next round battle against Danish champion FC Midtjylland, whilst Byåsen will face Thüringer HC, another team without points, in Round 3.
Group C
Győri AUDI ETO KC (HUN) vs. Metz Handball (FRA) 28:23 (16:13)
With a concentrated and well focused game plan, favourite Győr collected their first two points against a well organized French champion.
The pressure weighed heavily on the shoulders of the Hungarians after the clear defeat last weekend. Therefore, coach Csaba Konkoly put his best seven on court, with Andrea Lekić as playmaker and Anita Görbicz on the left wing (with 10 goals, the top scorer) to replace the slightly injured Orsolya Vérten. Lekić and young Anikó Kovacsics organized the Hungarian attacks well and with the loudly cheering fans as the eighth player, AUDI ETO dominated the game for the whole period.
On the Metz side, it was Allison Pineau and Claudine Mendy on the back court who tried to save the honour of the French, and with Győr having a few fluctuations in their game, Metz had their chances to close the gap.
However, Anita Görbicz – giving an amazing performance on the wing – and her colleagues concentrated much better in the decisive moments. With goalkeeper Katalin Pálinger closing her goal for business, the Hungarians ironed out their Danish nightmare, and retained those all-important home points.
Group D
C.S. Oltchim Rm. Vâlcea (ROU) vs. Dinamo Volgograd (RUS) 31:26 (13:13)
The Romanians gained much confidence after their first round victory and today they kept their fans happy, winning the duel against the Russian champions, the first on home soil in front of their frenetic supporters.
Dinamo were only able to keep the game on level terms for the first half, when back court players Anna Kochetova and Tatiana Khmyrova caused head-aches for the Oltchim defence.
Radu Voina shuffled his team for the second period, with Patricia Vizitiu and Ionela Stanca helping the local offense to turn the match. The victory seemed clear five minutes before the end, but Dinamo fought back hard again. Then, with a focused game in the dying minutes, Oltchim celebrated a clear and well deserved victory.
Text: EHF
