Thüringer open quarter-finals with comeback win

QUARTER-FINALS, FIRST LEG

Nykøbing Falster Håndbold (DEN) vs Thüringer HC (GER) 27:31 (14:13)

Top scorers: Clara Bang 7/11 (Nykøbing Falster Håndbold); Johanna Reichert 12/16 (Thüringer HC)

• Niels Agesen's squad came out on top after the opening 30 minutes with each club holding a lead at some point in the first half full of turnarounds
• Jana Scheib and Johanna Reichert scored four goals each in the first half or 60 per cent of Thüringer's goals
• THC's coach, Herbert Müller, deployed a seven-on-six attack during the latter stages of the first half in a bid to overcome NFH's aggressive defence
• goalkeeper Anne Christine Bossen played an important role for NFH, making 11 saves (29.7 per cent)
• Johanna Reichert has now scored 83 goals this season, keeping her on track to again finish the season as the competition’s top scorer

The champions' spirit prevails in Denmark

In a tale of two halves, Nykøbing Falster Håndbold caught Thüringer HC by surprise in the opening 30 minutes. The hosts were particularly impressive in defence, and goalkeeper Anne Christine Bossen made eight saves (40 per cent efficiency) in the first half to give the Danish club a slight advantage at the break.

However, Johanna Reichert led an increase in tempo in the second half, scoring eight of her 12 goals in the second 30 minutes to inspire a comeback by THC. Once the visitors had gained the lead at 19:18 in the 40th minute, courtesy of Natsuki Aizawa, they were able to hold on to take a four-goal advantage into the second leg in Germany.

Photos © Peter Larsen / BetaMy Foto