DVSC and CSM reach Youth Club Trophy final after thrillers

Two players stood out: Dia Friderikusz netted 11 times for DVSC, while CSM’s Maria Sprîncenatu scored 15 goals. Debrecen and Bucharest will now clash on the big stage, meeting in the MVM Dome on Sunday at 11:30 CEST, opening the final day of the Raiffeisen Bank EHF FINAL4 2026.

FTC (HUN) vs DVSC Kézilabda Akadémia (HUN) 27:28 (18:14)

Top scorers: Boglárka Tóth 8/8 (FTC), Dia Friderikusz 11/12 (DVSC Kézilabda Akadémia)

Backed by a huge crowd of their green-clad fans in the BUD Arena, FTC made an impressive start. With Laura Tarjányi and Dorka Borbás on fire in attack and a strong performance from goalkeeper Ligyija Sirina-Mokánszky, the Budapest-based side pulled ahead to a 13:6 lead in the 21st minute, as DVSC struggled to score against their stable defence. But the club from Debrecen struck back. Goalkeeper Vivien Tábit improved and wing Dia Friderikusz was unstoppable, netting six goals before the break. After the restart, Debrecen profited from a weak period by FTC. They equalised at 19:19 after nine minutes and Friderikusz’s ninth goal.

In the final 15 minutes, FTC improved on both ends of the court, but Debrecen’s defence was solid. When Friderikusz netted for the 26:21 lead with eight minutes left, DVSC’s place in the final seemed secure – but then Boglárka Tóth took all responsibility for FTC. With her three strikes in a row and another goal from Laura Tarjányi, Ferencvaros came close to 27:28 with the start of the last minute. However, their last attack failed; DVSC took a time-out, Dorka Krasznai hit the post, but the ball bounced back to Debrecen and the whistle went.

CSM Bucuresti (ROU) vs Györi ETO KC (HUN) 41:39 (13:21, 34:34)

Top scorers: Maria Sprîncenatu 15/17 (CSM Bucuresti), Hanna Marian 9/9 (Györi ETO KC)

With impressive fan bases from Bucharest and Györ shouting and drumming for their teams, the second semi-final was even louder than the first. A total of 34 goals in 30 minutes underlined the high speed of the first half, mainly shown by Györ. The Hungarian side played an “adult-like” style, based on counter-attacks, second wave and breakthrough goals – and CSM could not stop this express. Despite a 3:1 start, a strong performance from goalkeeper Alexia Chiru and five goals by Maria Sprîncenatu, CSM were down by eight goals already at the break after Györ’s final 5:1 run.

But the CSM players understood the words of coach Alexandru Moise during the break. Building on Chiru’s saves and goals by Sprîncenatu and Maria Petrache, they re-started with a 4:0 run then reduced the gap to 23:24, Sprîncenatu’s 10th strike. Györ lost their rhythm, causing a huge number of mistakes in attack, and also had problems with the resin on the ball. When CSM took their first lead at 26:25 after a 13:4 run, everything was open. With 40 seconds left, Maria Antonescu could have secured the final for CSM, but failed to score against goalkeeper Lara Körmendi. After a time-out, Györ cause a missed pass in attack, but CSM lost the ball and Hanna Marian equalised at 34:34 to take the match into overtime.

After five more minutes and some impressive saves from both sides, the result was still equal at 37:37. Although CSM had to play the last two minutes without her suspended top scorer Sprîncenatu, they managed to win, as Patrache converted two penalties in the final minute for the 41:39.

Photos © kolektiff images