Heavy absences were decisive for Dicken – GrIFK tightened grip on the final series: “A little unexpected but great fun”

The second final of the FM handball series was wide open after 30 minutes of play. Then the challenger Grankulla IFK put in an extra gear and pulled away with six balls – a gap that Dicken never came to make up.

Full in Granigrotta with almost 500 spectators. Then the home team showed what it should look like when you give your all for 60 minutes.

With the gas at the bottom, GrIFK continued where they were on Tuesday and extended the lead in the final series to 2–0 in games.

– Of course we hoped for this, it was perhaps a bit unexpected but great fun, states GriFK’s five-goal shooter Corinna Jensen.

Grankulla got off to a flying start in the match and pulled away with four balls after ten minutes of play. Jensen, who was responsible for the opening goal, believes that the strong start was decisive.

– We knew we had to start strong from the beginning. In the semi-finals we had problems with the opening. But today we started well and pushed hard the whole match.

But despite a strong start by Grankulla, the away team was able to catch up. After 30 minutes, the match looked like it would be a similar thriller to the one on Wednesday in Britas.

The second half decided

In the second half, Dicken had a hard time getting into the game. Grankulla pulled away with as many as six balls after half time, and the Helsinki team never recovered. The final score was 27–22.

According to Dickens’ top scorer Matilda Peitsaro, the technical misses were simply too many.

– In the second half, we don’t get going at all. We don’t get the balls in and let easy ones home, says a dejected Peitsaro after the match.

Grankulla went into the final series knowing that it has often been difficult for them to stay focused throughout the match – something that GrIFK coach Patrik Johanson believes they managed to minimize in tonight’s meeting. In addition to the good defensive play and great play Moa Sjölund in the goal, it was the focus that decided.

– Today we took a step forward. The slump that we have often had against Dicken was not as big and we were able to hold off, says coach Patrik Johanson.

The damage situation in Dicken was costly

Three out of four wins in home matches during the season and a cross. It was the balance that Dicken entered the final series with.

But the start of the series was anything but optimal. During the first final, center six Linn Wentzel and wing player Nina Ottelin were injured. Both were missing on the field in tonight’s meeting and, according to coach Thomas Lindström, they will not be seen on the field for the rest of the season.

The setback is big for the Helsinki team, who were forced to make tactical changes before tonight’s meeting – changes that did not bear fruit. Lindström takes on part of the loss.

– I made some tactically bad choices in defense that didn’t work.

The FM gold can be decided on Tuesday

On Tuesday, the final series continues in Britas, where Grankulla can take home his second FM gold of all time. GrIFK coach Johanson is aware that the hard work continues and believes that Tuesday’s match will be the toughest yet. The goal is still obvious.

– We aim for gold in Britas.

For Dicken, it is important to recharge and put the two heavy losses behind them. Matilda Peitsaro, on the other hand, is not particularly surprised by the situation Dicken found himself in.

– Grankulla has had a good season and they really want to win. If we are not good enough, they beat us.

But the nine-meter player is still hopeful.

– Nothing is yet decided. Of course, it is tough to come from a 0-2 deficit, but there can be three games left. We have everything in our own hands.