Tenths, maybe even hundredths. IK Sävehof had the time margins on their side in Sunday’s decider against Skövde HF when it was a 29-28 victory.
Arena Älvhögsborg in Trollhättan was the venue for Sunday evening’s meeting with Skövde. On paper, it was still Sävehof’s home ground and the team was able to establish an advantage during the second half of the first half. It was a 5-6 deficit before five straight goals for Gulsvart turned the game around and at halftime it was a 14-12 advantage.
The teams were again on equal footing when Skövde countered to 16-16 barely five minutes into the second half. Matilda Forsberg and Elín Klara Thorkelsdóttir temporarily arranged another two-goal lead, but the opponents would come back again and also get past.
A solid volley goal from Stella Huselius leveled the game at 26–26 with less than ten minutes left on the game clock. The teams continued to be goal-wise close to each other until the end where great drama unfolded. With short intervals, Skövde received double free throws in an offensive position and on the second occasion the ball went between the posts. However, the final whistle had just gone and no last goal was ever awarded, but Sävehof held on in Trollhättan and won with the odd goal until 29–28.
On Monday and Tuesday there is time for recovery and preparation before Wednesday is match day again. Then the team is back in Partille Arena for the home match against Kungälv.
IK Sävehof – Skövde HF 29–28 (14–12)
IK Sävehof’s goal scorers: Kim Molenaar 5, Literature Klara Thorkeydóttir 5, Stela Wiksfors 5, Stella Huselius 4, Nina 4, Matilda Forsberg 3, Ida 1, Tilde Skoog 1 Och Emma Mihailovic 1.
Skövde HF’s scorers: Tindra Sahlin Wallenius 7, Nora Jakobsson van Stam 4, Verena Oßwald 4, Manon Zijlmans 3, Michaela Ek 3, Selma Hestner Olsson 3, Christina Söndergaard Nielsen 1, Natalie Wästefors 1, Britta Jakobsson van Stam 1 and Emma Andersson 1.
– Erik Malmqvist
