Leipzig top Group A with a win in Ljubljana

HC Leipzig achieved their second win over RK Krim Mercator this season, taking the top position on the Group D table before the final game on Sunday between Dinamo and Hypo.

Group A
RK Krim Mercator (SLO) v HC Leipzig (GER) 31:35 (17:18)

The match started well for the hosts, who had a 3:0 lead after three minutes. Both teams played with pace and it soon became obvious that this would be a high-scoring match.

Leipzig bounced back from their slow start quickly and took the lead in the 12th minute (7:8). The visitors found their way to the six-metre line repeatedly, with Luisa Schulze netting five goals (six total) from open play in the first half.

In the visitor’s goal, Katja Schülke was in excellent form again (nine saves in the first half, 21 total), which helped widen the gap to five goals (13:18 in the 26th minute) as the first period came to an end.

Krim introduced goalkeeper Misa Marincek (16 saves total) and the hosts rallied to an equaliser in the 34th minute (19:19).

But the Slovenian champions were too impatient in attack, and their shots and passes were not as precise as their opponents. The gap slowly widened to five in Leipzig's favour in the 43rd minute (22:27).

Krim somehow pulled themselves together, tightened their defence and brought the score line back to two goals with seven minutes to go (28:30).

With the goals pouring in from both sides, the scales tipped in the German side’s favour five minutes from time when Schülke saved a shot from Tamara Mavsar (10 goals total), and Mirjeta Bajramoska (six goals total) aimed wide in the next attack. From there, Leipzig quickly increased their advantage and sealed the victory.

Karolina Kudlacz and Saskia Lang were again the most dangerous against Krim for Leipzig, with nine goals apiece.