In group D, before the start of the competition all the odds were against Sloveninans from Krim Ljubljana and all experts tended to say that the three Scandinavian teams will make it to the next round as Krim will fail.
The team of Uros Bregar showed that they are made of a stronger material than expected, winning all their three home games against Larvik, IK Savehof and Team Esbjerg. They managed to defeat Larvik in Norway as well, in the last round , gaining important points to take with through the Main Round.
In Boligmappa Arena, Larvik was clearly over played by a strong Slovenian team, which has no star players, but they are working together like a team. Despite good performances from Larvik players Amanda Kurtovic and Marit Malm Frafjord (ten goals both), the team of Tor Odvar Moen was once again weaker than Krim, with leaders like Elisbaeth Omoregie and goalkeeper Misa Marincek.
The first half was won by Krim 14-17, in the second part of nthe game Larvik was also stuggeling, mostly in defense, both Toft and Moreschi had hard time in Larvik’s goal, as they could not stop the Sloveninan attacks.
Larvik managed to close the gap to one goal, 27-28, and tried to use seven players in attack against six to be able to level the game, but two quick mistakes of Norwegians gave the opportunity to a sharp-shooting Marincek to put two easy goals in the empty Larvik-goal, deciding the outcome of this game quick and simple.
Krim took the victory 31-36, and their two extra points to the Main Round.
Larvik HK – Krim Mercator 31 – 36 (14 – 17)
Goals:
Larvik: Kurtovic 10, Frafjord 10, Riegelhuth Koren 6, Breistøl 2, G. Hammerseng Edin 2, T.M0rk 1
Krim: Omoregie 7, Koren 6, Bajramoska 5, Jericek 4, Baric 3, Benko 3, Marincek 3, Milanovic Litre 3, Georgijev 1, Kamdop 1
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