After losing their last three games, Elverum looked like they had lost the momentum that moved them in the first part of the season. And tonight, despite all of their efforts, the players from the Norwegian team were unable to stop Aalborg.
They had the opportunities, though, especially in the first half. Still, Mikael Aggefors pulled out an impressive performance, stopping eleven shots alone in the first thirty minutes. Thanks to these opportunities, the visitors were able to increase the gap up until the end of the game and control the pace, thus winning their third game in a row.
GROUP A:
Elverum Handball (NOR) vs Aalborg Håndbold (DEN) 28:34 (12:16)
- Aalborg were up by four at the break, and they could thank their Swedish goalkeeper Mikael Aggefors. He stopped eleven shots in the first half alone, offering his teammates the opportunities to score easily on fastbreaks.
- And when they did not manage to, the visitors were also efficient in slower plays, Lukas Sandell shining with his four goals.
- Aalborg kept the momentum after the break, despite Dominik Mathe scoring seven for Elverum, including four in the second period. But the Danish side was too strong collectively, as highlighted by the changes made by Stefan Madsen, who turned his bench in the last minutes of the tie.
- Aalborg have now won their last four games while Elverum have lost their momentum - having lost their previous four games.
- Thanks to this win, Aalborg are now second in the group with fourteen points, while Elverum are fifth with eight points.
Mikael Aggefors, an incredible evening
The Swedish goalkeeper had already stopped eleven shots at half-time, boasting a staggering 46% save ratio. In Aalborg’s breakthrough on the scoreboard, he was elemental, giving his partners some serenity behind a solid defence.
However, he did not stop there, stopping five more shots to help Aalborg forge a six-goal gap. Thirteen minutes from the end, he was replaced by Simon Gade. With the feeling that the job had been carried out to perfection.