At the Luz pavilion, the national champions, who were trying to reverse the 30-28 score from the first leg, took some responsibility for the difficult task ahead and were at a disadvantage throughout the first half.
João Alexandre Florêncio’s ‘seven’ improved substantially in the second half and even equalized the tie with three minutes remaining (30-28), but ended up being unable to sustain the Slovaks’ offensive power in the last moments.
In the first half, MSK Iuventa Michalovce took advantage of the Benfica fans’ nervousness to take an 8-2 lead, with 10 minutes played.
In the middle of the first half, Benfica improved in defensive terms, with an individual marking against the Slovaks, and shortened the gap to just two goals (9-11), also due to the success of Alexandra Shunu (the Eagles’ top scorer, with seven goals).
However, the ‘reds’ again had several technical errors and MSK Iuventa distanced themselves again (13-18), although Benfica took advantage of a two-minute exclusion from the Slovaks to leave the result at 17-20 at half-time.
In the second half, Benfica showed more selflessness and managed to reach a draw (21-21), then taking the lead (24-23) with 20 minutes to play.
The entry of goalkeeper Ana Ursu was also decisive for Benfica in the final stretch of the match.
The Portuguese-Moldovan stopped a seven-meter free kick from MSK Iuventa and also managed several important saves, helping the team to remain in the discussion for the tie.
However, in the last seconds, the Slovaks pressed forward and achieved a draw and qualification for the final of the European Women’s Handball Cup, in which they will face the Spanish team Bm Elche.
Game at Pavilion no. 2 at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon.
Benfica – Iuventa Michalovce, 30-30.
At half-time: 17-20.
With refereeing from the Dutch Ruud Geraets and Paul Geraets, the teams lined up and scored:
– Benfica: Isabela Ferrarin, Mariana Costa, Viktoriya Borshchenko (3), Maria João Unjanque (2), Nádia Rodrigues (2), Madalena Pereira, Ana Ursu, Ana Bolzan (6), Adriana Laje, Margarida Sá Pessoa (1), Constança Sequeira (5), Sabrine Sousa, Maria Eduarda Santos (2), Mihaela Minciuna (2), Ana Filipa Silva and Alexandra Shunu (7).
Coach: João Alexandre Florêncio.
– Iuventa Michalovce: Naira Almeida, Martina Popovcova (4), Veronika Habankova (1), Patrícia Wollingerova (8), Inyna Kompaniiets (7), Lívia Kluckova (6), Anastasija Krivokapic (2), Marija Radovic (1), Alena Dvorscakova, Nikoleta Pejovic (1), Aleksandra Dorsz, Dorota Bacenkova, Karina Soskyda, Irina Yablonska, Yevheniia Kohluch and Emília Kowalik.
Coach: Peter Kostka.
Scorer march: 1-3 (05 minutes), 2-8 (10), 8-11 (15), 11-15 (20), 13-8 (25), 17-20 (halftime), 21-21 (35), 23-23 (40), 25-25 (45), 26-26 (50), 28-27 (55) and 30-30 (final).
Attendance: Around 800 spectators.
