Stine Bredal Oftedal and Kari Brattset Dale contributed strongly as Györ beat Esbjerg 28-27 in the consolation Champions League handball final.

Nine Norwegian players were in action in the third place match in Budapest. But it was the Danes who starred in the show before the break. Goalkeeper Györ Sandra Toft had a save percentage of over 60 in the first half and also scored one goal.

Györ secured a 16-9 lead at the halfway point. That advantage increased to 18-9, and the game looked decisive. But within ten minutes Esbjerg came back 18-20.

After 47 minutes the score was 22-22 after a goal by Vilde Mortensen Ingstad.

It was even deep inside, but Györ escaped with a fright after collapsing completely for a long time in the second round.

Two and a half minutes before the end of the match, Ingstad was judged to have made a block error. Nora Mørk scored, but was blown away.

– I think we played very, very well in the second half. Then, unfortunately, again in Hungary, there were two refereeing decisions that I think went against us. We should have had two minutes, a clear penalty and a goal, Nora Mørk told TV 2 after the match.

– It’s sad, and you’re on a budget when the frustration is overwhelming. But I think we deserved a draw, because in the end we were conned.

– What explanation did you get for the assessment?

– Bullshit, bullshit. I have tried many times before. That’s nothing new.

Ingstad left Esbjerg this summer after seven seasons at the club and continued his career at CSM Bucharest.

Györ lost in the semifinals to Vipers Kristiansand 35-37 while Esbjerg was beaten 29-30 by FTC Hungary. The winning goal came two seconds from the end.

(© NTB)