Odense Håndbold and Ikast Håndbold battled to a 27-27 draw in a thrilling first leg of the Danish Championship semi-final. The match, filled with suspense until the very last second, saw Odense’s Mie Højlund equalize with just five seconds remaining.

Ikast’s Ingvild Bakkerud nearly clinched the win for her team, but her shot hit the crossbar as time expired. A victory would have given Ikast a significant advantage with a match point at home on Saturday.

The draw means that Odense can secure a spot in the Danish Championship final with a win in the next game.

Ikast faced a setback before the match with the announcement that Stine Skogrand suffered a torn cruciate ligament in one knee, sidelining her for an extended period.

Despite Skogrand’s absence, Ikast started strong, with Ingvild Bakkerud contributing goals and assists in the first half. The first 30 minutes were closely contested, with neither team gaining a lead of more than two goals, resulting in a 16-16 tie at halftime.

Ikast’s defense tightened its grip on Odense’s offense after the break, leading to suspensions and a series of penalty throws. However, Odense struggled with accuracy, missing numerous shots, including only converting 5 out of 11 penalty throws.

Filippa Idéhn proved to be a formidable presence in goal for Ikast. Despite their strong defensive efforts and opportunities to pull ahead in the final minutes, Ikast was unable to secure the decisive lead.