IKAST-BORDINGSECURES TOP SPOT

The Danish team continues its path of victory on the challenging ChampionsLeague road. On Sunday the Danes grabbed their third win in three group matches– via a solid 32-27 win over the Spanish side Astro Sagunto

Danish club Ikast-Bording EHis facing a positive bit of  deja vu.After three group matches in this year’s Champions League, the Danes have takenthe first steps towards the quarterfinals. Six points and the top spot in GroupA: a superb start for Ikast, but also a start with a challenge. Last seasonsstatistics confirm that Ikast-Bording – in January 2004 - was in the sameposition. But without success. The Danes failed to qualify – due to the sackingof the coach and internal turbulence.

But this time, the Ikast-team appears stronger and swept with harmony. On Sundayafternoon the rising form was reassured via a solid 32-27 victory versusSpanish side CM Astroc Sagunto. Ikast-Bording deserved the home win due to aneffort, combined with hard work, team tactics and individual performances. Thestars of the match were Ikast-wingers – the Danish internationals JosephineTouray and Line Daugaard – who scored 14 of the 32 goals.

However, the first half was equally split between the two teams. The reasonswere two good defences. Ikast-Bording started with a 3-0 lead – a three goallead, the home team retained this lead for most of the first half. But withsome difficulties.
The offensive 3:2:1 defence style of Astroc Saguntoc created stress and causedsome of the Ikast players to make several errors. The Spanish team gathered strengththrough their discipline and patience – a combination, which was awarded athalf time. The Ikast-Bording lead was punched down to 13-12.

Astroc Sagunto equalised fewminutes into the second half. But Ikast-Bording had more for the 1780spectators. A 16-15 lead was improved to 20-16, before the crucifying knockoutat 23-16. The last, but vital step, only took four minutes. After the match42nd minute, the hosts were in control. The weapons were once again keeperKarin Mortensen and a strong and aggressive Ikast-defence. But the mostimportant key was the movable attacks, combined with breakthrough efforts anddeadly counterattacks. Astroc Sagunto had no answers to the strength of theDanish team.

The final score seemed closerthan the missing struggle of the second half. Both Ikast-Bording and the guestsof Valencia gave away easy goals in the last minutes.

Text: Ole Bitsch