Slovenian champions Krim Ljublana are very close to their fifth final in the history of the womenxs Champions League after a convincing 24:16 away win over Danish Champions League debutants Aalborg DH in the first leg of the semifinals...

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Slovenian champions Krim Ljublana are very close to their fifth final in the history of the women’s Champions League after a convincing 24:16 away win over Danish Champions League debutants Aalborg DH in the first leg of the semifinals.

Coach Tone Tiselj´s team never left any doubt, who was the better team in front of 4,716 spectators in the Gigantium Arena of Aalborg, and from the start Krim could please their 200 fans by taking the initiative. This initiative resulted in a three goal lead already at 0:3, and later at 1:4, and 2:5.

Aalborg was handicapped by being without Danish national team player Rikke Nielsen, who is out for the rest of the season with an injured thumb, and Norwegian national team player Marianne Rokne.

Lack of back court players

This left Aalborg coach Christian Dalmose with very few back court players - and the Krim defence with very few problems against the Danish attacking play.

As Krim’s Romanian national team goalkeeper Luminita Dinu also played a magnificent match with 16 saves all together, the Slovenians could easily increase their lead to 3:7, 4:9, 5:11, and 6:12, before a first half with unusually few goals ended 7:12.

Better start to the second half by Aalborg

The beginning of the second half became Aalborg´s best period of the match, as the home team managed to reduce the Krim lead to 8:12, 9:13, 10:13, 12:15, and 13:16.

After that, however, Aalborg seemed to have used up their power, and could not prevent Krim from increasing their lead again. Christian Dalmose gave the only 16 year old playmaker Lærke Møller the chance, but she was not able to change things, either, and Krim increased their lead again - this time to 14:19 and 15:21, before the match ended 16:24.

Realistic Aalborg coach

"We missed Rikke Nielsen’s and Marianna Rokne’s speed tonight, and that was one of the reasons, why we got behind in a hurry. However, we know we can do better than this. We will just have to rise and try to win the second leg" said a realistic Aalborg coach Christian Dalmose after the defeat.

He had his best players in right winger Louise Pedersen, who scored 7 goals, and in goalkeeper Katrine Lunde, who saved 12 shots, two of them being penalties. Maryna Vergelyuk scored 6 times for Krim.

The second leg will take place in Ljublana Sunday April 23 at 16.30.

Text: Peter Bruun