Lunde's show in overtime pushes Odense to their first final

EHF / Danijela Vekić

31 May 2025, 20:20

The EHF FINAL4 debutants just turned Budapest upside down. Odense Håndbold delivered a stunning performance to knock out Metz Handball by winning 31:29 after overtime and booking an historic place in their first EHF Champions League final. The Danish side proved they were more than ready for the big stage, coming back from a seven-goal deficit to level the game, and ultimately go past Metz in overtime. As the final buzzer of the 2 x 5 minutes echoed around the MVM Dome, Odense had done the unthinkable — ending Metz’s perfect season, and becoming the first Danish team since Viborg in 2010 to reach the final.

SEMI-FINAL

Metz Handball (FRA) vs Odense Håndbold (DEN) 29:31 (16:13, 27:27)

Metz were the side having a narrow edge, but Helena Elver tilted the scale in the 15th minute for a short-lived Odense 8:7 lead
the French side really pushed Odense's back court line, thus pushing Odense to seek solutions on the wing position — they scored half of their goals in the first 20 minutes from those solutions
Metz had a blistering start to the second half — they spurred a 4:0 run and set a 20:13 lead, while leaving Odense without a goal for almost eighth minutes
in minute 38 Metz's run stopped and Odense stepped up a gear — with six consecutive goals they heated the MVM Dome back again
left wing Elma Halilcevic's direct red card in the 49th minute shocked Odense, but they quickly reassembled and continued the hunt
when Mie Højlund scored her third in the game, Odense finally levelled with Metz, giving a thrilling end — overtime
the overtime went Odense's way, with Katrine Lunde pushing her team to an historic win

𝗢𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗘 🧡🇩🇰 are going to the FINAL!

A 31:29 battle won — and now one step from the trophy.#ehffinal4 #CLW #handball #ehfcl pic.twitter.com/ec5iF462KT
— EHF Champions League (@ehfcl) May 31, 2025

Against all the odds, courtesy of Katrine Lunde

With the big-game experience of coach Ole Gustav Gjekstad and the legendary Katrine Lunde, Odense defied the odds and ended Metz’s 16-game unbeaten streak in overtime of their semi-final. Thale Deila and Elma Halilcevic charged Odense's comeback midway through the second half, slicing through Metz's defence and Mie Højlund, one of the club's longest serving members, delivered a top performance in defence and levelled to 24:24 just eighth minutes before the end. That was the ground for what was coming.

From trailing by seven to leading by one in the second half, having a draw and going to overtime — they have seen it all. But they delivered when it was the most important. They kept their heads cool in the overtime and had a two-goal cushion. How? Well it's enough to just say — Katrine Lunde. The legendary goalkeeper delivered an incredible performance with eight saves at 40 per cent save efficiency, and pushed her side to the final, where she will have a chance to fight for her eighth title.

After 45 minutes, we looked like we had no chance. Then suddenly we stepped up and I am really proud of my girls to really believe in it and work all the way. We are able to win it, it’s fantastic. I think perhaps from the start we were a little taken by the moment and the situations since it's our first time here. But after a while we really stepped up, so it’s fantastic.

Ole Gustav Gjekstad

Head coach, Odense Håndbold

We have lost the game. In the last five, 10 minutes we didn't play well, our defence wasn't the best we can do. We couldn't score, we lost the ball, one-against-one wasn't strong. Their goalkeeper could really make a difference, and even though we tried, we couldn't find a solution to solve our problem.

Léna Grandveau

Centre back, Metz Handball