NORDSTRAND LOST AGAIN

Viborg HK took the secondvictory in the Champions League demolishing Nordstrand 29-14 – in Oslo, Norway.

The home team Nordstrand madea good start leading 3-1 after 10 minutes - though it was only a question of timebefore the Danish Champion made a serious attack on the Norwegians.

But first the 1004 spectatorswitnessed a lot of technical fouls. The first ten minutes were made up of lostballs, bad shots, bad passes etc. A cold sports centre combined with a brandnew ball is a very bad combination.

After the first ten minutes,the Danes revealed why they were the favourites going into the match in Oslo.There was a 13-7 Viborg lead after the first half, but there was more to come.The first minutes of the second half were a true Danish dream – and a Norwegiannightmare. Six Danish goals in a row – the difference was bigger than anyonecould believe:

“Viborg is better than lastyear and we are weaker. They have several stars sitting on the bench. I havemany players without any international experience,” Nordstrand coach IvicaRimanic said when explaining the difference to journalists and spectators afterthe match.

The 31-year old Nordstrandkeeper Heidi Tjugum was a great star in Viborg and Denmark until 2003, butthere was no friendly gesture from her former club. Heidi Tjugum made a solidperformance, but it was not enough this Saturday afternoon. Her former teammate and apprentice 22-year old Olympic Champion Louise Bager Noergaard was“player of the match” making an impressive 23 saves – 63 %!

“I am very proud of my team.We gave a very strong performance today. A strong, strong defence and a superLouise (Bager Nørgaard, red.) showing her importance in the team. We haveimproved in quality the last three weeks,” said Viborg coach Ryan Zinglersen-  also celebrating the Wednesdayvictory in the Danish league against the Champion League winners, Slagelse.

In the table Viborg is numberone in Denmark, but only second in group B to undefeated Austrian team HypoNiederösterreich. The coming weekend will see round 4 with the Austriansplaying at home against Nordstrand and Viborg visiting Volgograd.

Text: Jens Ole Sorensen