Debutants Rostov-Don take impressive win in Larvik

Rostov-Don had an impressive performance in the Russian team's first ever Champions League match, beating Larvik 27:21. Their lead was as big as 10 goals at one stage in the second half. Larvik reduced the deficit but never came close.

GROUP A

Larvik (NOR) vs Rostov-Don (RUS) 21:27 (10:14)

Left back Vladlena Bobrovnikova had the honour of scoring Rostov-Don´s first Champions League goal in history as she made it 1:0 in the first minute. She doubled the score in an opening phase in which Rostov-Don were completely dominating.

Already after 16 minutes coach Tor Odvar Moen called his second timeout at a point where the visitors were already leading 9:1.

Apart from the pregnant Linn-Kristin Riegehuth-Koren, Larvik were missing injured Anja Edin-Hammerseng, Alina Wojtas and Tine Stange. Rostov-Don's defence and Norwegian international Katrine Lunde in the Russian goal were tough challenges for the home team.

It helped Larvik a bit to move Amanda Kurtovic into the middle of their back court line as playmaker and to have Alma Hasanic replace Sandra Toft in goal. This enabled Larvik to catch up with half of the deficit before half-time, but from the start of the second half, Rostov-Don adjusted to those changes.

The Russian champions increased their lead again, this time to 10 goals at 22:12, before Larvik managed to reduce the gap towards the end without coming close.

"I am very content with the game. It was obviously great to start with a win," said Rostov-Don's Norwegian national team goalkeeper Katrine Lunde. Larvik coach Tor Odvar Moen simply said: "There is a lot for us to work on."