The guests started the return leg stronger, taking an early 2:0 lead. However, Ana Gros and Grace Zaadi quickly responded, leveling the score. In the 13th minute, the team captain put Krim ahead for the first time, netting the 4:3 goal. She kept the momentum going, scoring again just a minute later – this time from the seven-meter line.
After a timeout at 5:5 called by visiting coach Jakob Vestergaard, the German team regained their rhythm, prompting Krim’s head coach, Ambrosio Martin, to react. His adjustments paid off, as the home team, backed by a passionate crowd, managed to close the gap to just one goal at halftime (10:11).
Krim picked up where they left off after the break. Tjaša Stanko equalized, followed by another goal from Gros, who soon extended the lead to +2. By the 37th minute, the team in blue had widened the gap to three goals. The Tivoli Arena erupted with joy when Philomena Egger netted for 17:13.
The home side played with heart, leaving everything on the court! Even when the German team cut the deficit to a single goal, Krim reignited their engines. Ana Gros scored her tenth goal of the match six minutes before the final whistle, pushing the lead to +5. However, the advantage slightly diminished before the end, resulting in a bittersweet 26:23 victory – one that improved the impression from last week but wasn’t enough to complete a miracle in Ljubljana.
With a 47:54 aggregate score in the EHF Champions League Play-Off, the Tigresses have concluded their European journey for this season.
Ambrosio Martin, head coach of Krim Mercator: »The season isn’t over, only the European season is. Today, Ludwigsburg was there even in tough moments – with goals, with saves. They played excellently. We tried to do what we believed in and what we wanted. But it was almost impossible.«
Tamara Mavsar, left wing of Krim Mercator: »We knew that today’s game would depend on our defense, but we also had to score. I’m glad we at least ended the season with a victory. We suffered, there’s no denying that. See you next season.«
EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, PLAY-OFF, 2nd GAME
Sunday, 30th March 2025, at 14:00
KRIM MERCATOR : HB LUDWIGSBURG (NEM) 26:23 (10:11)
Krim Mercator: Jurič, Radičević 1, Stanko 6, Gros 10, Zaadi Deuna 3, Mavsar, Abina A. 2, Arenhart, N’Diaye, Vojnovič, Gutierrez Bermejo 1, Zulič, Ngombele, Brnović 2, Grbić, Egger 1.
HB Ludwigsburg: Bundsen, Thomaier, Gassama Cissokho 3, Döll 2, Leuchter 4, Kudlacz-Gloc 3, Roth, Johansen 1, Hvenfelt, Smits 1, Behrend, Nestaker 3, Carlson 3, Faluvegi, Mala 3.
7 meters: Krim Mercator 7/7, HB Ludwigsburg 4/5
2-minutes suspensions: Krim Mercator 4 min, HB Ludwigsburg 8 min