Oltchim close in on Champions League semi-finals

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In the Women’s handball Champions League Group 2, Romanian team Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea on Saturday overcame adversity to blow away Hungarian team Ferencvaros 30-23 (15-15) with a second half hurricane after a tight opening period and they now have every chance of reaching the last four when they take on Krim Mercator next weekend, according to ehfcl.com

Oltchim lost Ionela Stanca just a few days before their vital trip to FTC after the line player acrimoniously parted company with the club over unpaid wages, but the Romanian outfit conjured their best Champions League performance of the season in the face of unwelcome adversity when the chips were down.Oltchim had to win to keep alive any realistic hopes of avoiding an early exit and following a tight first half, they rolled on at full throttle in the second to brush aside the team that stunned them 23:22 on home court in their opening Main Round Group 2 fixture.That result had left lingering doubts over Oltchim’s ability to progress to the semi-finals and following an impressive performance in Hungary, they now have their fate firmly in their own hands.Tomori was her usual self and scored seven goals for the home side but the support cast was thwarted by Oltchim’s iron-clad second half defence, with Montenegrin sharpshooter Katarina Bulatovic also on song at the other end with seven goals to her name.Spaniard Alexandrina Cabral Barbosa and Ukraine’s Iuliia Managarova chipped in with five each, while pivot Oana Manea netted four for rampant Oltchim. FTC can still advance to the semi-finals but apart from requiring a win at Zvezda in their final game, they also need the results of other games to go their way.  (photo: sportfoto.ro)

Yesterday evening, in the women’s EHF Cup quarterfinals, Itxako Navarra – HCM Zalau: 22-31(10-15). Return leg to be played next Sunday in Zalau.