Hungary’s Györi Audi ETO KC became the most successful club in the history of the Women’s EHF Champions League on Sunday, when they defeated Rostov-Don to win their third straight title – and fifth overall. Györ’s thrilling 25:24 victory against the Russian team in the final was a fitting end to a spectacular event, which saw the WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4 reach dazzling new heights.

 

With the win, Györ became the most successful club in Women’s EHF Champions League history, as they passed Hypo Niederösterreich’s record of most wins. The victory also meant that two former World Handball Players of the Year – 2014 winner Eduarda Amorim and 2005 recipient Anita Görbicz – celebrated their fifth individual titles, all won with Györ. 

 

“I cannot yet put these 60 minutes together in my mind. I am extremely happy as it is my fifth win, so now I just go and celebrate,” said Görbicz.

 

As the defending champions, who entered the DELO WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4 with an impressive record of no Champions League losses since January 2018, Györ were the favourites to claim the trophy – and they well and truly lived up to expectations.

 

Györ enjoyed a comfortable win in their semi-final versus Norwegian club Vipers Kristiansand, with a final result of 31:22. The clear victory came after they set a new record for biggest half-time advantage in a WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4 match – 10 goals, at 18:8.

 

Rostov-Don reached the final by way of a less decisive but still powerful win in their semi-final against the first French club ever to qualify for the event, Metz Handball. Like the other FINAL4 debutants Vipers had before them, Metz struggled to find their usual game and fell behind 8:15 in the first 30 minutes. The French side recovered for a much stronger second half and fought back to come painfully close to a win, but were ultimately defeated 25:27.

 

While Györ and Rostov proceeded to the final, Metz and Vipers contested the 3/4 play-off. Led by 10 goals from back Linn Jorum Sulland, who secured her place as the season’s top scorer with a total of 89 goals, Vipers won the bronze medal, 31:30.

 

Sulland was not the only player with a notable scoring achievement over the weekend, as Györ back Nycke Groot took her career tally at WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4 events to 57 goals, passing Cristina Neagu to become the all-time top scorer at the event.

 

For her performance in both matches over the weekend, Györ goalkeeper Kari Aalvik Grimsbø was named MVP of the DELO WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4.

 

Alongside the thrilling matches, the DELO WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4 saw new features such as a pre-semi-final Locker Room Show and an official opening party headlined by a performance from American singer-songwriter Anastacia. It was also the first WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4 with a title sponsor, the Delo Group, who will be the title sponsor of the Women’s EHF Champions League for the next two seasons.

 

More information on the Women’s EHF Champions League can be found on the official website.

Photo: Aniko Kovacs