Two Danish clubs, one Hungarian side and one Croatian team remain in the race for the Women’s EHF Cup title, following the conclusion of the quarter-finals on Sunday. The second-tier international club competition in Europe is now set for the semi-finals, with Odense Håndbold, Siófok KC Hungary, Herning-Ikast Handbold and HC Podravka Vegeta the four to contest the penultimate stage. 

All but one of the quarter-final victories was clear. With the stage played across two legs, the winner is decided on aggregate, and Danish side Odense had by far the closest victory as they defeated Russian club Handball Club Lada by just one goal on aggregate, 62:61. After Lada won their home leg 31:28, Odense took a 34:30 victory on their own court to secure the semi-final berth. 

With Lada’s defeat, the current top scorer of the competition is also eliminated: Elena Mikhaylichenko, the MVP of the 2018 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, bows out with 75 goals total. 

The first semi-finalists were confirmed on Saturday, when Siófok beat Turkish club Kastamonu Belediyesi GSK with a clear aggregate result of 78:49. Siófok’s chance to progress was strong following their 38:29 win in the away leg in Turkey, and they confirmed it with a 40:20 result at home. 

On Sunday, Croatian team Podravka qualified for their first international semi-final since the 2007/08 season. Podravka followed their 27:23 victory on their own court with a 34:28 result away in Germany, thereby collecting a 61:51 aggregate win over Thüringer HC. 

Danish club Herning-Ikast followed their domestic rivals Odense to the semi-finals when they defeated Romanian club CS Gloria 2018 Bistrita-Nasaud 57:52 on aggregate (29:27, 28:26). Herning-Ikast’s Norwegian international Helene Fauske is the second top scorer of the EHF Cup following the quarter-finals, with 71 goals. 

The semi-finals will be played from 4 to 12 April, with Odense meeting Siófok and Herning-Ikast taking on Podravka. 

More information on the Women’s EHF Cup can be found on the official website of the competition.

PHOTO: Herning-Ikast Håndbold / Hamistolen