DUNAFERRWINS BY MINIMAL MARGIN

Hungarian champion Dunaferr defeated their Danishcounterpart, Viborg by one goal in the quarterfinal of the Champions League.They could not amass a larger lead as the visitors had much better substitutes.Key players on the home team were too tired and could not focus towards theend, so the margin is minimal as they enter the second leg.

At the beginning, the two sides progressed on aneck-to-neck level, but the visitors opened a three-goal lead by the 10thminute (3-6). However, Dunaferr managed to equalise ten minutes later (7-7),largely due to the excellent performance of goalkeeper Pálinger, who showed a50% save efficiency in this period.

At this point, Viborg’s coach Zinglersen decided torefresh his team by a replacing several players. Mikkelsen, Zhai and Ortuno didbring a change in the course of the game, indeed: the Danish champion gained afour-goal margin by halftime (10-14).

In the second half, both defencestoughened up a bit: the Lithuanian referee couple sent Gáspár, Mikkelsen andSkov off court within a relatively short period. However, the Hungarian teamcould not utilise the extra-player advantage immediately: Nörgaard savedPálffy’s shot, but Radulovics equalised from a penalty, eventually (18-18).

Keeping the momentum, Radulovics scored another goaland put her side in the lead, while Pálinger showed some fine saves. Pálffy’stwo consequent fast break goals resulted in a two-goal gap (21-19). Thevisitors were trying to keep up with Jurack’s and Mulder’s prolific game, whileKiaerskou showed a fine performance in centre back throughout the match.

The swift wing, Mikkelsen scored from thecounterattacks, while young Vincze achieved her first goal in the 51st minute.Dunaferr seemed to be able to open a significant gap (26-22), but the visitorsfocussed better at the end of the game. Jurack managed to score from anovertime free throw, so the Hungarian team’s advantage is very small on the runup to the return leg.

Text: Sándor Joó