Burgaard brings victory to Midtjylland

Although Brest could not take any points from Rostov and Györ, they fought hard against both heavyweights.

At home against Midtjylland, the French debutants were determined to grab their first ever points in the continental top flight, yet the more experienced Danish side snatched a 23:22 win.

• Midtjylland won their second game in a row
• Brest still have no points in the competition
• Louise Burgaard and Veronica Kristiansen scored 17 of FCM's 23 goals

GROUP B

Brest Bretagne Handball (FRA) vs FC Midtjylland (DEN) 22:23 (10:12)

Midtjylland had a slow start and were unable to score during the first five minutes of the match. Brest’s goalkeeper Cleopatre Darleux did a good job, and Brest were in a 2:0 lead.

But gradually the Danish team seized the initiative. Louise Burgaard scored their first goal, and she went on to net four more times before the break.

Both teams played a very defensive game, but the visitors were more successful. Between the 21st and 27th minutes, Midtjylland enjoyed a 4:0 run, moving the score from 7:7 to 11:7, and they led 12:10 by the interval.

Goals were few and far between for most of the second half as defensive skills continued to dominate on both sides. Brest tried hard to catch up and did so a couple of times — notably 50 seconds from full time when Marie Prouvensier drew level at 22:22.

However, Midtjylland used their last chance as Burgaard scored her tenth goal from a free throw after the final whistle, making her team jump with joy.

Midtjylland head coach Kristian Kristensen said his team knew "how complicated it is to win away".

"The match could have turned in both directions. We had a good period in the first half but Brest came back. It was then tight in the second half and we won on a crazy goal, it was a bit lucky," Kristensen said.

Brest coach Laurent Bezeau congratulated his side for their efforts.

"It is difficult to find very simple explanations," he said of the loss. "One must not forget where one comes from. We changed seven players this summer and we have to be competitive fast.

"Yes, we lost, yes he missed some details but when we were led by four goals, the girls had the ability to come back and in the end, we missed the draw cruelly," Bezeau said.