KOMETAL PLAYED THEIR TRUMP CARD, THE TURKISH JOKER OZEL FOR THE THIRDFINAL

Kometal GP Skopje havereached their third Women Champion League final after defeating the Austrianteam, Hypo Niederösterreich  22-18. Inthe first game in Vienna, Hypo won 32-30. For the second time in one week, the Turkishplayer Yeliz Ozel was the joker for Kometal GP in the semi-final games. After10 goals in Vienna, she went on to score 9 goals, 8 in second half.

Once again Kometal GP playedtwo totally different 30 minutes. They had to "catch" Hypo by fourgoals from an early period in the game. After 8 minutes in the game Hypo led by4-1. Kometal GP scored their first goal in the 2nd minute, and the next one, someseven minutes later. The guest’s  "aggressive" defence stopped every Kometal GP shot.Bujanova, Todorovska, Tsygitsa and Platon were very nervous and were makingmany mistakes. 

Coach Andriy Portnoy asked for a time out,but nothing was to change. Logvin, Spiridon and Bilobrk worked together witheach other excellently, using every chance and for a second time Hypo weredefending a four goal difference, 8-4. By the end Kometal GP managed to comecloser, but the two goal line was never crossed.

"Our desire was big, butthe ball "slipped" from our hand. In defence we easily allowed ourguest players to find their way to our goal, said Portnoy who has reached hisfirst CL final in his coaching career.

Supporters had to wait until38 min. when Ozel first scored the equalizer, 11-11, and minutes later Kometaltook the lead, 13-12. In this period of the game Ozel scored five goals in a row,later having a 17-15 lead.

In the last ten minutes,Kometal GP had their nose ahead by one goal (17-16), but very quickly Ozel,Bujanova and Tsygitsa extended the lead to 20-16. Pivotn Mladenovic scored her firstgoal from this position in the 55th min.

"I would like tocongratulate my players. After the two games, Hypo deserved to play in the final.Kometal GP is a good team, and tonight’s game was a great show for women’shandball - said Gunnar Prokop, Hypo manager.

Text: Goran Antevski