With their backs against the wall, Odense Handball forced a third and decisive playoff final against Team Esbjerg despite a superp performance from Norwegian international Henny Reistad.
The defending champions from Odense won the final 33-30 against Esbjerg, who otherwise could have decided the final after a 37-30 victory in the first leg at home.
With an incredible 19 goals, Reistad did her part to ensure that Team Esbjerg secured the title, but it wasn't enough. Odense could not handle Reistad's physique, but her teammates did not live up to the level of the world's best handball player.
Instead, it was an efficient and balanced Odense team that had the better of the one-man army of Reistad.
In Saturday's final, the hosts enjoyed a bright start to the game as their defense stood firm and forced the visitors into several technical errors. However, when Reistad began to turn on the show, it developed into an even first half as Odense struggled to contain the Norwegian international.
Three Reistad goals in quick succession put Esbjerg ahead 22-21, but she needed help from her teammates for Esbjerg to maintain the lead, and the help never arrived.
The hosts promptly punished big Esbjerg mistakes, and with a couple of goals on the counter, Odense went ahead with three for the first time in the game.
However, Reistad continued to impress, and it was entirely to her credit that Team Esbjerg was only behind by a couple of goals until the last few minutes.
Three minutes before the time, however, the Norwegian star was hit by a decisive two-minute penalty, and the visitors never recovered from that.