Away wins for Györ and Odense; FTC make comeback against CSM

EHF / Adrian Costeiu

17 November 2024, 18:00

The gap between the top two sides in group A, Metz and FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria and the following teams grew even bigger, becoming almost unassailable, after FTC secured their seventh win in eight matches, 31:28, against CSM Bucuresti.

Team Esbjerg erased an inefficient first half against Buducnost to clinch a clear 26:19 win, their fifth in a row, which left the Montenegrin side without a victory after eight rounds.

The largest number of goals scored in both Odense’s and Brest’s matches in the EHF Champions League Women was broken in this Match of the Week, as the Danish side delivered a fantastic 38:36 win against Brest, to clinch their fourth win in a row.

Györ finished 2024 in the lead in group B, after making the double over Rapid, with a 28:25 win over the Romanian side.

CSM conceded their third loss in a row and are fourth in the group standings, tying their longest-ever losing streak in history, set five times previously in the European premium competition
centre back Elizabeth Omoregie, the second top scorer of the season, with 59 goals, tied her best-ever performance in the EHF Champions League Women, set against HCM Baia Mare in November 2015, with 10 goals against FTC
Team Esbjerg secured their fifth win in a row and their sixth this season, despite coming only two goals short of the record for the lowest number of goals scored by both teams in a match of theirs in the competition
with the seventh loss in eight matches and a single point won so far, Buducnost are the only team without a win in this season of the EHF Champions League Women
Norwegian back Thale Rushfeldt Deila, who scored seven goals for Odense and was the top scorer of the game, was named the Player of the Match
this was the largest scoring match in both Brest’s and Odense’s history in the European premium competition, with the previous record seeing 70 goals scored in Brest’s largest-scoring match and 71 being Odense’s previous record
dealing Brest their third loss in four matches, as well as securing the fourth consecutive win in the competition, Odense finished 2024 third in the standings, tied on points with Esbjerg, 12, only one point behind leaders Györ
reigning champions Györ finished 2024 in first place in group B, after their sixth win in eight matches, 28:25 against Rapid
the Romanian side conceded their sixth loss in a row, currently their largest-ever streak in the EHF Champions League Women

GROUP A

FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) vs CSM Bucuresti (ROU) 31:28 (17:18)

Just like in the match against Metz Handball, CSM were left lacking in the closing stages of the match, scoring a single goal in the last nine minutes and 50 seconds. That enabled FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria to jump to their seventh win in eight matches this season, with the gap between the second-placed side and the third, Krim, being six points now, with only six rounds left. In Cristina Neagu’s comeback in the European premium competition after one month, the Romanian back scored eight times, but her output was nowhere near enough, with FTC being more clinical in the final moments of the match. This was CSM’s third loss in a row, as the Romanian side is now reeling and needing something new, after tying their worst-ever losing streak in the EHF Champions League Women.

It is a good feeling to win an important match like this. We played at a high level and we had the right players in the right situations during the game.

Allan Heine Pedersen

Head coach, FTC Rail-Cargo Hungaria

I’m sad that we lost this game against FTC, they were stronger today. I think we did a great job, we fought until the end, but it wasn’t enough.

Helle Thomsen

Head coach, CSM Bucuresti

Maybe the match was a bit messy, but Buducnost were very well prepared. They created some doubt in our team, and when we started to miss our chances, it even created some anxiety. We managed to break that, but I still lift off my hat for them.

Tomas Axnér

Head coach, Team Esbjerg

We can always learn. I am still proud of the team and the approach to the game. We managed to hold Team Esbjerg to 26 goals when they often score 35.

Nina Bulatovic

Right wing, Buducnost

I'm sad that we lost. I think we fought a lot and comparing to the last game, I think we could manage it a little bit better. We knew that they like to run and I think we gave them lots of chances. Yes, I'm happy that I could help. I wish I could help more but I think in the end it was a good game and good fighting. I'm happy, but unfortunately this result doesn't help us.

Denisa Sandru

Goalkeeper, Rapid Bucuresti

What was different with Rapid today, they played so much better. This was the biggest change. I'm super happy how we played 40 minutes and we also created a lot of goal chances. We played solid in the defence. I'm of course very satisfied that we win this away game and can go to the EHF EURO break with only three lost points in the EHF Champions League group phase. So I'm really, really satisfied.

Per Johansson

Head coach, Györi Audi ETO KC