MOL Women's Ob I: Fradi closes in on gold
FTC-Telekom won the second match of the finals, 6-9, thanks to their effective defensive tactics. Despite multiple exclusions due to tough play, their disadvantageous defense worked well, while UVSE's attacking line did not: after their 16/4 defeat on Wednesday, they closed this match with 19/4, making it easy for Fradi in the end.
Indeed, UVSE started the second match of the finals on home ground. The atmosphere was tense even before the start, with a significant number of UTE football supporters present at the Hajós-covered pool. The outcome of the match was influenced by the spectator turnout, as the Ferencváros women's handball team played a crucial match in Győr hours later.
The question was how the defending champions would react, as they seemed to lose momentum in the second half of the previous match, especially in the fourth quarter. Their first power play resulted in a missed opportunity, but they took the lead with a goal from Faragó Kamilla following two great saves by Golopencza Szonja. However, Valeria Palmieri from UVSE scored from center, and Kuna Szonja equalized shortly after. The game paused in terms of goals, with Golopencza making two important saves, while the physical battle in the pool intensified.
Almost 26 seconds before the buzzer, Kuna scored the first power-play goal for Fradi. UVSE attempted a 7-on-6 offense, but failed to score as planned. Fradi's starting goalkeeper, Kiss Alexandra, missed an open goal 2.5 seconds before the buzzer, and the league leaders were ahead after eight minutes (2-3).
The second quarter continued in a similar fashion. UVSE failed to capitalize on their chances, while Hertzka Orsolya extended Fradi's lead with a great shot. UVSE's following power play was unsuccessful, reflecting their offensive struggle, as they managed no shots on goal after their first two goals (leading 2-10 in missed shots). However, Tiba Panna scored for UVSE after a blocked power play, bringing them back into the game. The match witnessed back-and-forth action, until Fradi extended their lead to three goals. UVSE struggled to score, hitting the crossbar and having shots blocked. The match continued similarly to their encounter in the first match, with UVSE trailing 3-5 at halftime.
The third quarter saw UVSE missing two more power-play opportunities (including a blocked play and a shot hitting the goalpost) and Fradi failing to capitalize on their own power play. A solid defensive performance from Fradi prevented UVSE from utilizing their numerical advantages. Fradi now leads 2-0 and is close to claiming the gold in the upcoming match on Tuesday.
MOL Women's Ob I
Finals, 2nd Match
UVSE-Helia D–FTC-Telekom 6-9 – Aggregate: 0-2
Bronze Match
One-Eger–Dunaújvárosi Főiskola to be played later
