Vipers Kristiansand became only the fifth team in history to retain their title in the EHF Champions League Women, after securing two wins at the EHF FINAL4 in the MVM Dome in Budapest last weekend, including a masterclass 33:31 one against rivals Győri Audi ETO KC in the final.

Following in the footsteps of Hypo Niederösterreich, Slagelse FH, Viborg HK and Győri Audi ETO KC, the Norwegian powerhouse delivered two overwhelming performances on two consecutive days to lift the trophy for the second time in a row in front of 15,400 fans – a new record of attendance for a women’s club handball match.

With a stellar line-up qualified for the EHF FINAL4 after a tough season of the European premium competition, Vipers looked like underdogs to retain their trophy, especially as Győri Audi ETO KC were riding a superb record – 15 wins and only a single loss – entering the competition.

The Hungarian powerhouse confirmed their credentials with a 32:27 win in their semi-final on Saturday against Team Esbjerg, as they dealt the Danish side only the second loss of the season.

A complete performance, with a strong attack doubled down by an airtight defence, lifted Győr to their ninth final in the EHF Champions League Women – a record for a single side – as they were eyeing their sixth trophy in history.

In the other semi-final, Czech back Markéta Jeřábková delivered one of the all-time great performances in the history of the EHF FINAL4, putting 12 goals past Metz Handball to help her side Vipers Kristiansand clinch a 33:27 win.

Jeřábková entered the history books as only the third player to score at least 12 goals in a single game at the EHF FINAL4, three goals shy of the record set by Swedish centre back Isabelle Gulldén in the final of the 2015/16 season, when CSM București beat Győr on penalties, and tied with Norwegian back Henny Reistad, who scored 12 goals in last season’s final against Brest Bretagne Handball. 

With Vipers and Győr rekindling their superb rivalry in the final, Metz Handball and Team Esbjerg met for the 3/4 placement match on Sunday. The French side had more poise and aggression in sealing a 32:26 win, in what was the last game for the French side for team captain Méline Nocandy, goalkeeper Ivana Kapitanović, backs Grâce Zaadi and Orlane Kanor, who are leaving this summer.

The last match of the weekend was totally worthy of a final, pitting together two powerhouses, who definitely were deserving of their status to fight for the trophy.

Győr started the game better, taking a 10:7 lead after 13 minutes, but after a scoreless stint of nine minutes and 40 seconds, Vipers bounced back, as a 6:0 run enabled them to take the lead.

Riding their experience and depth and with a tactical mastermind in Ole Gustav Gjekstad on the bench, the reigning champions never relinquished the lead, despite Győr’s efforts, which eventually proved worthless.

With a 33:31 win, Vipers secured their second consecutive title, while also delivering one of the biggest surprises against a team which was considered the favourite, but failed to mount a comeback in the second half.

For goalkeeper Katrine Lunde and right back Nora Mørk, this was the sixth title in the EHF Champions League Women, tying Bojana Popović and Ausra Fridrikas as the most decorated players in the competition. Lunde and Mørk also tripled up on the gold medals, after securing the Women’s EHF EURO 2020 and the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship with Norway.

Jeřábková, who finished the EHF FINAL4 with 19 goals, topping the scoring charts in both games in Budapest, was named the MVP of the tournament, becoming the first Czech player to seal the award – and in her first-ever season in the European premium competition.

This edition of the EHF FINAL4 also set a record for the number of goals scored in the four matches – 241 – 11 more than the previous record, set a season ago, and 17 more than in the 2016/17 season.

The top scorer of the EHF Champions League Women was Romanian left back Cristina Neagu, who scored 110 goals, three more than the second-placed Nora Mørk, despite playing two games less, after CSM were eliminated by Esbjerg in the quarter-finals. 

The third place in the top scorer standings was shared by Esbjerg’s back Henny Reistad and Slovenian right back Ana Gros, after scoring 104 goals each.

Four Győr players – goalkeeper Laura Glauser, centre back Stine Oftedal, line player Linn Blohm and defender Kari Brattset Dale – plus their coach, Ambros Martin, made it into the All-star Team of the season in the EHF Champions League Women.

Oftedal, the MVP of the 2017 IHF Women’s World Championship, and the IHF Female World Player of the Year in 2019, was named in the All-star Team for the fourth season in a row, while Cristina Neagu, a four-time IHF World Player of the Year has been selected as the All-star left back of the EHF Champions League Women for the seventh time.

Dutch right wing Angela Malestein (FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria), left wing Sanna Solberg-Isaksen (Team Esbjerg) and Pauletta Foppa (Brest Bretagne Handball), the best young player, were also selected in the All-star Team.

For more information on the EHF FINAL4 Women 2022 and the EHF Champions League Women, visit eurohandball.com. 

Photo: EHF / kolektiff / Uros Hocevar