Györi Audi ETO KC became the Women’s EHF Champions League 2017/18 winners after a tense 70-minute battle versus HC Vardar, taking a 27:26 victory thanks to a fast-break save from Eva Kiss in the dying seconds of extra time at Pap Laszlo Sportarena in Budapest.
The packed Papp Laszlo Budapest Sportarena was treated to another spectacular Women’s EHF Champions League trophy match, as Györ and Vardar needed extra time to find a winner of the 2017/18 season.
Györ become first to defend FINAL4 title.
The Handball Giants Győri Audi ETO KC began the trophy match just as they did the semi-final, with their strong defence making it difficult for their opponents to find their rhythm, and even the same opening goal – a ground shot from left back Eduarda Amorim. Győr started off the match with much more focus than their rivals, both in attack and in defense. With an outstanding Eduarda Amorim and Kari Grimsbø. The defending champions paved their path to the final against the Macedonian squad.
The Macedonian team’s first goal came from Alexandra Lacrabere on a penalty in the fifth (2:1), but Vardar trailed their opponents by a steady one to two goals through the opening 25 minutes. Vardar keeper Amandine Leynaud did not open the match as well as Grimsbø, but once she began to make saves, she became the Hungarian team’s nightmare, finishing the match with a rate of 41 per cent.
The teams have completed the first half of the game with an equal score 9:9
70 minutes to decide the trophy.
Györ scored the first goal in extra time, and though Vardar always levelled, the Hungarian side ended the first five-minute period with a 24:23 lead. After coming in for penalties throughout the match, goal-keeper Eva Kiss replaced Grimsbø for the second five minutes.
With two goals in a row, from Groot and Bernadett Bodi, Györ pulled ahead 26:23 – but Vardar answered, with Lekic taking the Macedonian team within one at 26:27. In a nail-biting last minute, Györ lost the ball on their final attack. Lekic ran down the court on a fast-break combination with Andrea Canadija – who took the last shot, only to have it saved by Kiss with which Győri women's handball team made history with the fourth well deserved Champions League trophy.
It was a thrilling farewell for Ambros Martín head coach of Győri Audi ETO KC.
Ambros Martin says goodbye to Györ after winning four Champions League trophies in six years with the club
"I want to talk about what I feel about my team but I can not describe my feelings today. Not just because what happened today, ever day is amazing in Győr. Congratulations to Vardar as well, none of the teams deserved to lose today. We are very satisfied with the result,” commented Martin after the final, which saw him steer Györ to a fourth title in six years.
Vardar Skopje leave the EHF FINAL4 empty handed after five participations, and two consecutive finals
The individual scoring results of the final mean CSM left back Cristina Neagu is confirmed as the top scorer of the 2017/18 season with 109 goals, while Amandine Leynaud claimed the MVP trophy.
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