Debutants extend dream start, Larvik get 100th win

Rostov-Don took their third win out of three in Group A as they defeated HCM Baia Mare 22:20 in Romania on Friday evening. Meanwhile, Larvik earned their 100^th win in Women's EHF Champions League history by downing RK Krim Mercator in Ljubljana 37:21.

Group A
HCM Baia Mare (ROU) vs Rostov-Don (RUS) 20:22 (10:13)

Rostov-Don got their third win out of three in the group matches, but the Russian newcomers had to work hard for the two points. The match was not decided until 30 seconds before the final buzzer when left back Anna Sen scored the last goal to seal the 22:20 win.

"HCM is a strong team and has great supporters. But we kept our moral high for the entire game," Rostov-Don coach Jan Leslie said.

The 2,000 spectators saw Rostov-Don getting the far better start to the match, building leads of 4:1 and 7:3.

However, Baia Mare slowly worked themselves into the game, and with four minutes and 48 seconds left of the first half, Allison Pineau made the equalizer to 10:10 on a penalty.

Still, this was the only time in the first half the hosts were at level score as Rostov-Don scored the last three goals before the half-time.

From the start of the second half the visitors remained two or three goals up, until Brazilian right wing Alexandrina do Nascimento equalise for the home team once again, making it 16:16 after 12 minutes and 27 seconds into the half.

Soon, Rostov-Don got three goals ahead again but with one minute and three seconds left, Dutch centre back Lois Abbingh really made the arena boil, reducing the difference to just one goal, 21:20.

However, Sen’s goal 30 seconds later ended any doubts about the winning side.

"In the first half we made some big mistakes, we wasted some big opportunities. But the girls fought and I want to congratulate them for their attitude," Baia Mare coach Aurelian Rosca said.

Anna Sen, Iuliia Managarova and Ekaterina Ilina scored five goals each for Rostov-Don, while Dutch international Lois Abbingh scored six for Baia Mare.

While Rostov-Don are alone on top of the group with six points, the pressure has increased on Baia Mare. He Roumanian side are still on two points, failing to win at home in the group matches yet.

RK Krim Mercator (SLO) vs Larvik (NOR) 21:37 (10:21)

Larvik took their Champions League win number 100 with style, defeating Krim by no less than 16 goals in the Arena Stozice.

"We worked very hard before this game," Larvik coach Tor Odvar Moen said. "We tried to force them to use their line players a little bit more. I think we stopped them from their best way of playing."

Larvik flew to Ljubljana already Wednesday and that turned out to be a good idea. Goalkeeper Sandra Toft had to spend Wednesday night in a local hospital due to an allergic reaction but was reported fit for the match. However, she was never on the court as Alma Hasanic guarded the Norwegian goal all 60 minutes.

Larvik was also in doubt about Nora Mørk, who sustained an ankle injury in a national cup match during the week, but the 24-year-old right back was fit and able to play as long as needed.

Tor Odvar Moen gave match praxis to his entire bench. Also, Anja Hammerseng-Edin returned from injury for her first Champions League minutes of the season.

Krim were only able to follow Larvik until 2:2. From then on, the visitors took the lead and increased it steadily throughout the rest of the match until a 16-goal difference.

"Larvik gave us an amazing show with atomic handball," Krim coach Marta Bon said. "I’m sad because we went into the match with too much respect for their big names. I wanted to start the game more courageously and bravely."

Amanda Kurtovic was most scoring player for Larvik and also in the match with eight goals, while centre back Polona Baric scored five times for the hosts.

With their second win in succession, Larvik are now on four points, while Krim remain on zero.