– I am incredibly light. Györ is a great team. We have great respect for them. It is absolutely incredible what the girls on the team can achieve, says Sunniva Nes Andersen to news. In front of 20,000 spectators in the MVM Dome in Budapest, it was the Vipers who dominated in a very strong first half. They won the entire game 23-18. But Györ fought his way back in, which meant that there were dramatic final minutes. – We suffered in the second half as well. I was a bit stressed, but we played a very good first half, which meant that we managed to pull it off in the end, says Vipers player Sunniva Nes Andersen to news. Lunde with decisive save At 36-34 to Vipers, Marketa Jarebkova was sent off for two minutes. Vipers had to finish the match with one player less. But then you have Katrine Lunde. The veteran goalkeeper who is always there now it really matters. Lunde saved the next shot, but the Vipers messed up the ball in the following attack. – I think we had a calm at the end, even if it was a bit tighter. It was a little too close at the end, says Lunde. – Was the second late at the end there? – I think the whole second half went late, she laughs. Vipers had taken Lunde out of the goal, and Györ put the ball in the empty goal to make it 36-35. With half a minute to go, Ole Gustav Gjekstad took a time-out, where they made a plan that worked. Anna Vyakhireva danced through the Györ defense to score 37-35. – I lost the ball twice there. But I felt comfortable the whole match, even though I wasn’t at my best. But the team did well, even if we got a nod towards the end. But we did it, and that’s the most important thing. I am very proud, says Vyakhireva. This is the “final 4” Final finals in the women’s handball championship The four best teams meet to fight for the championship trophy The campaign takes place in the MVM Dome in Budapest Here’s the semifinals: Vipers Kristiansand – Györ (Hungary) Esbjerg (Denmark) – Ferencvaros (Hungary) The road ahead: The winners of the semi-finals will play the final The losers of the semi-finals will play the bronze final Starting strongly Vipers went out for a hundred in the first half. Jamina Roberts put several balls in the net, Katrine Lunde saved at the other end, and mercenary Katarina Jezic on the line fought at both ends of the court. Ten minutes into the half, the experienced Györ coach Umbros Martin had seen enough and took a time-out. Then the Vipers led 9-5. It had an immediate effect, and within a few minutes the lead was reduced to two goals. Frustrated Györ But Vipers have many strings to play. When it closes in the middle, it gave plenty of room for Sunniva Nes Andersen on the left wing, who time and time again outwitted Györ goalkeeper Sandra Toft. Amadine Leynaud also tried to score for the Hungarians, but she didn’t have the day either. Not least Anna Vyakhireva made life difficult for the Hungarians, as she time after time danced her way through the defence. – Fantastic half Györ simply had big problems handling the Vipers attack, and were behind by eight goals midway through the first half. Vipers went into the break with a 23-18 lead. – A fantastic first half. Vipers have acquired a gap that will be extremely difficult for Györ to fill in again. Five goals is difficult, summed up news’s handball expert Peder Langfeldt after the first half. The Vipers also took the second half well. They put the first two balls in the goal and led by seven. Nervous finish But Györ, who received fantastic support in the stands from thousands of his own fans, never gave up. Midway through, they were suddenly only three goals behind. Anne Mette Hansen had the opportunity to reduce the lead to two goals from the seven-metre mark, but Vipers goalkeeper Sofie Børjesson came in and saved. The Vipers kept pulling away. And so they managed to pull off the victory in the end. Vipers will meet either Esbjerg or Ferencvaros in the final on Sunday. – It’s the same thing. We should have the gold, says Vipers player Ragnhild Valle Dahl. The Vipers fans are charging up for the semi-final 11:28 This is how we cover “final 4” 00:34 This is how Katrine Lunde psychs out the opponents 01:09 Thinks Vipers are favorites in the championship 03:05 Show more
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