Denmark’s Team Esbjerg beat Hungary’s Ferencz-Toyota Kovács, who had been undefeated, sparking a race to lead the women’s handball Champions League.
Esbier defeated Ferencvaros 29-26 in the seventh round of Group A qualifying round of the 2026/27 EHF Women’s Handball Champions League at Blue Water Docken in Esbier, Denmark, on the 8th (local time).
The two teams recorded 6 wins and 1 loss (12 points) side by side. Ferencvaros, who suffered his first loss of the season, led the way on goal difference, and Svier, who won two consecutive games, was in second place.
사진 확대 Photo by EHF Women’s Handball Champions League Esbier and Ferencvaros in the 2026/27 season, photo source = European Handball Federation
SBier took the lead from the beginning of the game with a solid defense. Both team goalkeepers Katharina Filter and Anna Kristensen exchanged good defense from the beginning, but Esbier effectively blocked the opponent’s attack in defense and scored with a quick counterattack. Svier, led by Sanna Solberg-Isaksen’s performance, ran 10-5 in the 23rd minute of the first half.
Ferencvaros went on a chase at the end of the first half and narrowed the gap to 11-13. However, Esbier widened the gap again with Henny Reistad leading the attack and finished the first half with a 15-11 lead.
In the second half, Leystad and Nora ø led the attack by Esbier. Ferencvarosi, who had only 11 field player replacement resources, had difficulty finding a clue to the counterattack. Esbier gradually widened the gap and once scored up to nine goals to win the game.
However, at the end of the game, Ferencvaros regained his concentration and chased. Taking advantage of the slowing down of Svier’s attack, he followed from 20-27 to 24-28 in the final five minutes. It also created an extra scoring opportunity, but Esbier maintained the lead by overhauling the defense and eventually won 29–26. He won his eighth game against Ferencvaros, giving his opponent his first loss of the season.
Esbier led the attack with Henny Leystad and Nora Mörk scoring seven goals each, while goalkeeper Anna Christensen helped her win with 15 saves. At Ferencvaros, goalkeeper Katarina Filler made 16 saves, and Lisa Tchaptchett scored six goals.
“Today we have done almost everything successfully,” Svier coach Thomas Axnér told the European Handball Federation. “He created many opportunities in attack, and in defense, he tied Ferencvarosi to three goals in the first 12 minutes of the game,” he said. “He controlled the opponent’s strong one-on-one attack and induced a 7-on-6 attack that he did not use often this season.”
Manager Jesper Jensen said, “Sbier performed better today. The opponent was more active and also had the upper hand in a one-on-one match, he said. “Henny Leystad took up a lot of space on both sides of the court. There are many things to supplement ahead of next week’s rematch,” he said.
[Kim Yongpil, MK Sports Reporter]