2023-05-07 13:56:28
Published on May 7, 2023 at 3:56 p.m. – updated on May 7, 2023 at 3:59 p.m.
Missed out on his subject in the second period, Metz bowed on his floor against Ferencvaros (26-33) and saw the ticket to the Final Four which seemed to him promised after the first leg slip through his fingers.
The sky has fallen on the heads of Metz supporters! A few weeks after securing the title of champions of France, the Dragonnes will see their European ambitions go up in smoke in front of their audience of the Arena against Ferencvaros. With a six-point advantage after their first-leg success in Hungary, Manu Mayonnade’s players did not take this return match in the best possible way. Indeed, thanks in particular to Katrin Kluijber (5 goals on 9 shots), it was the Hungarian team that took the lead for most of the first quarter of an hour. Metz was only able to take the advantage once when Tamara Horacek (1 goal on 4 shots) then Chloé Valentini (2 goals on 3 shots) deceived the vigilance of Kinga Janurik (3 saves at 17% efficiency ). Led by two lengths, the Messines raised their heads with a 4-0 in two minutes with Kristina Jörgensen (4 goals on 7 shots) in charge. A first break for the French club which only lasted four minutes.
Metz held on in the first half
This is the time it took Szandra Szöllosi-Zacsik (4 goals on 5 shots) and Angela Malestein (8 goals on 12 shots) to put the two teams back into a tie. The last ten minutes of the first act saw the two teams surrender blow for blow and it was on a parity score that the return to the locker room took place. A break that saw Gabor Elek shoot into the goal of Ferencvaros Blanka Biro (6 saves at 35% efficiency), which gave the Messin attack nightmares throughout the last 30 minutes. The Hungarian goalkeeper set the tone after just sixteen seconds by stopping a seven-yard throw from Kristina Jörgensen. Laura Kanor (3 goals on 4 shots) and Valeriia Maslova (4 goals on 7 shots) gave the change but Metz only managed to score three goals in just under a quarter of an hour. On the other side of the field, Ferencvaros did not ask for his rest. Entering the break in place of a Hatadou Sako in lack of success (3 stops at 15% efficiency), Camille Sinceet (8 stops at 33% efficiency) could not prevent Emily Bölk (5 goals on 8 shots) and her teammates to widen the gap.
Biro Executioner of the Dragons
At the start of the last quarter of an hour, the situation became tense when the Hungarians erased the delay in the first leg, leading by six lengths thanks to Andrea Lekic (2 goals on 5 shots). Bruna de Paula (4 goals on 8 shots) and especially Sarah Bouktit (8 goals on 10 shots) then took their responsibilities to allow Metz to continue to believe in the Final Four but it was Blanka Biro who had the advantage on the attack of the Dragonnes. A 3-0 at the start of the last ten minutes brought Ferencvaros closer to qualification. At the last second, Valeriia Maslova had the ball of hope in her hands on a throw from nine meters but the Hungarian wall had the last laugh, symbol of a glaring lack of offensive efficiency on the Messin side, with only 57% of shots converted into goals. Ferencvaros won by seven lengths (26-33), which gave the Hungarian club the ticket to the Final Four with a margin of only one unit (59-58). For Metz, it’s a real disappointment as the ambitions were high at the start of this double confrontation.
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