Viborg leave Dijon with the bronze medal

3/4 PLACEMENT MATCH

VIBORG HK (DEN) VS MOL ESZTERGOM (HUN) 35:30 (19:13)

H2H: 1-0-0
Top scorers: Sara Hald 12/12 (Viborg HK); Borbála Ballai 8/9 (MOL Esztergom)

• both teams had a strong start to the game and neither side could pull ahead for the first 14 minutes
• Viborg's compact defence made way for a 3:0 run to set the first two-goal lead (9:7) when Sara Hald netted her second of the day, putting the pressure on Esztergom
• the Hungarian side bounced back to level at 9:9, but they lacked composure in the closing stages of the first half — turnovers and misses left them scoreless in the last five minutes
• the Danish side stretched the gap to six by half-time with Hald remaining their anchor in attack
• Viborg's biggest lead in the game was eight (25:17) as goalkeeper Louise Bak Jensen once again had a good performance in Dijon — 13 saves at 35 per cent efficiency
• Esztergom were trying their best to find new energy and get back into the game, with different approaches and a new goalkeeper, but the closest they came was at 28:24
• Maria Fisker Stokholm — the club legend bidding farewell — closed the game with her fifth and final goal for a 35:30 win

HALD'S EXPERIENCE BRINGS BRONZE

Missing out on the final by an inch did not break Viborg's spirit. Instead, the Danish side responded with a composed and mature performance to finish their European campaign on a high and leave Dijon with the bronze medals around their necks.

Just like in the semi-finals, Viborg relied on their fast pace and aggressive defence, which laid the foundation for a crucial 5:0 unanswered run towards the end of the first half. That momentum proved decisive, as MOL Esztergom were unable to close the gap for the remainder of the match.

Leading the charge was the only player in Viborg's squad who had already experienced the club's previous EHF Finals success — Sara Hald. The line player stepped into the spotlight and guided her side with 12 goals in a perfect manner, without a miss.

There was also a fitting farewell for Maria Fisker Stokholm. The left wing — a two-time EHF Champions League winner and one of the club's legends — capped off her time at Viborg with another medal around her neck after scoring five times.

Photos © Foxaep