The BVB women's handball team have picked up their second win of the European League group stages. Following a brilliant start, they ran out 30-27 (16-12) victors away to ES Besancon Feminin. Meret Ossenkopp was the best thrower with seven goals.

The scenario: BVB went into their second away match of the European League group stages having initially beaten Norwegians Molde Elite 33-32 at home before then losing 27-24 in their game away to Siófok KC in Hungary. Pivot Lisa Antl had recovered from her ligament injury and returned to the fold.

The match & analysis: BVB started the match at the Palais des Sports in Besancon alertly and led 5-0 by the five-minute mark thanks to goals from Dana Bleckmann, Meret Ossenkopp, Sara Garovic and Alina Grijseels (two). The Dortmund defence did a great job, stayed focused and initially did not even let Besancon get a throw away. By the time the speedy Ossenlopp had made it 8-2 in the 12th minute and then upped the score to 9-2 seconds later, there was a deafening silence from the 3,000 spectators at the Palais des Sports.

It was clear that the Dortmund ladies still had a long way to go. Besancon's coach Sébastien Mizoule was rather displeased when he called his players over with the score at 10-2. The wake-up call worked. The French outfit subsequently played the way that BVB coach Henk Groener had expected them to before the match. Much more aggressive in defence and quicker going forward. They reduced the deficit from 10-2 to 10-7 within the space of only five minutes. And were back within touching distance. 

But the Black & Yellows recovered, began to deal with the tall Louise Cusset in the central block better and led 16-10 with three minutes to go before the break. The score was 16-12 at the interval, although BVB were fortunate that Juliette Faure's free throw on the stroke of half-time only hit the bar. 

In the second period, Henk Groener reintroduced pivot Lisa Antl after her lengthy injury lay-off in order to give Emma Olsson – who was up against it in the central block – some breathing space in attack.

It remained close, with Besancon narrowing their deficit to two goals at 22-20 (46). Shouts of "Allez, alles" rang out around the arena but Borussia kept their cool in the heated atmosphere and remained unaffected. When Zöe Sprengers increased the advantage to 25-20 in the 48th minute, BVB found themselves five goals in front again.

The final minutes could hardly have been more combative and chaotic. The interplay between captain Alina Grijseels and right winger Meret Ossenkopp was very strong. As was goalkeeper Sophie Moth. BVB led 28-23 with five minutes remaining and Alina Grijseels used the time-out to motivate her team-mates. By the time Frida Rønning had scored thrice in succession to make it 30-25 with two minutes to go, the game was won. 

Reactions: Henk Groener: "That was an unbelievable start from us. Besancon didn't know how to handle it. It of course became exciting again when they moved to within two goals of us, but we always kept our composure and even lost a player in Dana Bleckmann, who rolled her ankle before the break."

BVB women's handball team: Moth, ten Holte, Kohorst: Grijseels (5/2), Sprengers (4), Kusian, Ossenkopp (7), Olsson (1), Rønning (4), Bleckmann (3), Garovic (4), Antl (1) , Schwarz, Hausherr (1)

Outlook: With their third match in the European League done and dusted, the Borussia ladies are next in action in the DHB-Pokal on Saturday 28 January. They will be away to HSG Bensheim/Auersbach in the quarter-final. Throw-off away to the "Flames" is at 18:00 CET.