Buducnost overcome trouble with final quarter goal flurry

Despite losing leads of six and four goals along the way, Buducnost still managed to take a major step towards the MVM EHF FINAL4 through a clear 28:22 win away against Viborg HK on Sunday.

Women’s EHF Champions League Quarter-final Leg 1
Viborg HK (DEN) vs Buducnost (MNE) 22:28 (11:13)

With a 8:1 run in the final 12 minutes, Buducnost took a major step towards Budapest, as they defeated Viborg HK by six goals in Viborg Stadionhal on Sunday afternoon, but it was far from plain sailing for the Montenegrin side.

Early in the match, they lost left wing Biljana Pavicevic due to an ankle injury, and in the second half, their other left wing, Majda Mehmedovic as well as line player Dragana Cvijic had to leave the action with three two-minute suspensions.

However, this did not stop the Montenegrin record champions from turning a 21:20 deficit after 48 minutes into a 28:22 win.

Viborg had playmaker Isabelle Gulldén and line player Mette Gravholt back from injury and this enabled the Danish champions to give Buducnost a run for their money for most of the match.

After an equal start, Buducnost went ahead 10:5 and 13:7, but through six goals in a row, Viborg managed to draw themselves level at 13:13 two minutes and 51 seconds into the second half.

The visitors moved ahead again, by four goals this time, at 18:14, but once again, Viborg came storming back, before Rikke Skov (top scorer with eight goals) gave the hosts the lead at 21:20.

It all went downhill from there for the Danes, with the likes of top socrer Katarina Bulatovic (eight goals) and Cristina Neagu firing in goals with relative ease.

“They were simply better than us. Every time we felt that we were on our way back into the game, they managed to increase the pace. Furthermore, their shooters were extremely good,” said Viborg goalkeeper Rikke Poulsen.