Without the team captain, GrIFK suffered a loss against SIF – but when Johanna Hilli was back in the lineup, she showed the way against her old club HIFK. You had to work hard today, she says after the victory for Yle Sporten.
– It’s great that we bounce back and show that we are a very good team, states GrIFK coach Patrik Johanson on the association’s website.
Of course, given that the Grankulla team’s last game resulted in a mildly surprising seven-goal loss at home against second-placed SIF, expectations were perhaps not too high against HIFK on Saturday.
HIFK had still beaten the reigning champions Dicken in their last match. And they themselves looked forward to a chance to take revenge on the green-clad comrade rivals in Grankullagrotta.
The match was even from the start, but GrIFK held onto the tempo in the first half. At the break it was 16-13 to the home team.
– It was a tough match, you had to toil and fight to get the points, says Johanna Hilli afterwards to Yle Sporten.
“The goalkeeping game decided”
Perhaps it was Hilli who was finally the tip of the iceberg. The team captain made his first game after a few games long break and scored four goals in both the first and second half.
At the same time, GrIFK were tight enough at the back and secured a 27–26 victory.
– Lucky that we were able to keep it together all the way. I am most satisfied with being able to play again. It is more fun to participate and contribute. Today it was still the goalkeeper’s play that decided, says Hilli.
Johanna Hilli was top scorer in the match with her eight hits.
Photo: Kalle Parkkinen/Newspix24/Handball Association
Johanna Hilli
Moa Sjölund was noted for a total of 15 parades between the posts for GrIFK and was chosen as player of the match.
– It was getting exciting at the end, but we raised our level from the last game and worked as a team, says the goalkeeper.
In the HIFK camp, coach Nils Kühr talks about “junior handball” when he summarizes the match from the visitors’ perspective on the association’s website. And he is supported by Emma von Nandelstadh:
– Communication in the defense must improve. And so we have to get better at keeping a cool head in the attack. GrIFK took advantage of our mistakes, read us well and set their positions, she says.
GrIFK now top the table with 14 points from nine games, two points ahead of HIFK and Dicken (who have played one less game).
Results
The ladies’ FM series
GrIFK–HIFK 27–26 (16–13)
BK-46–SIF 26–18 (17–7)
The men’s FM league
Dicken–Cocks 22–35 (8–19)
SIF–BK-46 19–35 (10–17)
HIFK–ÅIFK 35–25 (14–12)
