Rapid Bucuresti: Buceschi, da Cruz Kassoma 2, Perianu, Sandru, Lopez Herrero 1, Gutierrez Bermejo 4, Korsos, Kanor 5, Kapitanović, Ostase 1, Fernandez Fraga 1, Azenaide 2, Hernandez Serrador, Badea, Polman 8, Grozav 6.
Krim Mercator: Radosavljević 3, Radičević 5, Stanko 2, Abina, Žabjek, Dmitrieva 5, Klemenčič, Miklič, Ljepoja 1, Varagić 1, Ngombele, Lazović, Kovarova, Risović, Rosiak 7, Svetik.
Penalites (7-meters): Rapid Bucuresti 4 (3), Krim Mercator 4 (2)
Suspenisons: Rapid Bucuresti 4 minute, Krim Mercator 10 minut
Red card: Ljepoja (60', Krim Mercator)
Dragan Adžić, coach of RK Krim Mercator: “An expectedly challenging match in a great atmosphere. We didn’t play at the desired level, we didn’t give our maximum. We will not look for excuses in the health problems of the team. The responsibility lies with the coach, so I will do a qualitative analysis. Despite everything, I can say that we have made progress. In her first season in the EHF Champions League, Aleksandra Rosiak fared well in such an important match. All the experience we have gained will be useful to us in the rest of the season, and especially in the next one.”
Aleksandra Rosiak, RK Krim Mercator handball player: “It was an extremely demanding match in which we fought until the end. We took the first step towards the quarter-finals at home, but this time we allowed too many goals to our opponents and lost our chances of advancing.”
Nataša Ljepoja, RK Krim Mercator handball player: “We knew that a five-goal lead didn’t bring anything. The match was really challenging, the atmosphere was great. At the beginning we struggled in attack, in the beginning of the second half we were incredible, but then it collapsed and the result is what it is. We regret this one goal, which cost us the quarter-finals.”
Tjaša Stanko, RK Krim Mercator handball player: “Even before the return match, we emphasized that the difference is never big enough. We were aware of this, but now we cannot hide our disappointment and anger. It’s hard to say that we had promotion in our hands, but we had an advantage. We made too many mistakes, we should have improved things from the first game, but we didn’t.”
Alja Varagić, RK Krim Mercator handball player: “We definitely came to Bucharest for promotion, but we made too many mistakes, which our rivals took advantage of. In such an atmosphere it was not difficult. We lacked patience, focus and our game, which we showed in Stožice. This is one of the hardest defeats in my career.”
