NOHOPE FOR NORDSTRAND

After losing 22-31 to HypoNiederösterreich at home, Nordstrand realize that their hopes of progressingfrom the group stage in the Champions League are slim. Nordstrand knew that theyhad to play up to their highest level to give Hypo Niederösterreich a fight forthe points in their second group match in Champions League.

And for 45 minutes they didput a little pressure on their guests. But the last quarter of an hour they ranlow on fuel and Hypo showed some of the potential in their team.

Nine goals from Logvin

Nordstrand’s tactics were to stopGabriella Rotis-Nagy rather than Tanja Logvin. They succeeded in stoppingRotis-Nagy, who only managed to score twice, but Logvin got all the room shewanted and ended up as the  top scorerwith nine goals.

The Czech Iva Zamorska wasthe home team’s leading scorer with seven goals.

Now the Norwegians realizethat only a miracle can give them a place in the quarter-finals of the ChampionsLeague. They lost their opening match in the tournament to Dinamo AQUAVolgograd.

No chance

“I don’t think we have achance of advancing from the group stage when we lose at home”, the coach IvicaRimanic said after the match.

Hypo on the other hand havehad a flying start, winning their first two matches.

Nordstrand’s best playerswere the goalkeeper Heidi Tjugum and the lineplayer Randi Gustad, Nordstrand’sonly player in Norway’s European Championship-winning squad.

For Hypo, Logvin and TetyanaShynkarenko were the most influential players.

Nordstrand take on Viborg in Oslo in their next match, while Hypo meetsDinamo AQUA Volgograd in Austria.

Text: Stig Nygard