Krim win Group D after earn first away points
Not even 10 goals from Amanda Kurtovic as well as Marit Malm Frafjord was enough for Larvik to win their last group match as they suffered a 31:36 home defeat to a Group D qualifier RK Krim Mercator.
• The result means that RK Krim Mercator, who reached the group stage as a qualifier, win the group
• Krim take six points with them to the main round, Larvik either two or four depending on the last game Esbjerg vs Sävehof
• The win was Krim's first away in the Women's EHF Champions League this season
Larvik (NOR) vs RK Krim Mercator (SLO) 31:36 (14:17)
Krim won Group D with eight points after earning the first away points in the Women's EHF Champions League this season.
At the same time, the Slovenian side take six points with them to the main round, while Larvik take two or four points with them, depending on the result of the last match between Team Esbjerg and IK Sävehof Sunday.
Krim with the better start
Krim got the better start and were leading 4:1 and 5:2.
The visitors also maintained a one or two-goal lead, until Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren equalised at 9:9 after 16 minutes.
It was also Riegelhuth Koren who gave Larvik their first lead in the match at 10:9 two and a half minute later, but it Krim managed to get back into the driver's seat before half-time.
Six against seven did not work
Krim started the high-scoring second half by doubling their lead to six goals at 24:18, and six minutes into the half, Larvik coach Tor Odvar Moen dictated seven against six in the attack.
This helped his team a bit at first, but it also resulted in Krim goalkeeper Misa Marincek scoring three goals in an empty Larvik net.
The home team got a bit of hope with 16 minutes left, as Krim's young shooting star Elizabeth Omoregie, who had scored seven goals until then, got a red card for her third two minutes suspension.
Larvik got as close as being only one goal down at 28:27, but they were unable to resist Krim's impressive finish.
Right back Amanda Kurtovic and line player Marit Malm Frafjord scored 10 goals each for Larvik, while Omoregie remained top scorer for Krim through the seven goals she scored before her red card.
TEXT:
Peter Bruun / br