Corona Brașov Women — Rapid Bucuresti Women: 22:22, Liga Națională Women

Corona Brăila Women and Rapid Bucharest played out a 22:22 draw in the National League on Wednesday evening. The result leaves the hosts rooted to ninth place while the visitors remain in fourth, though the gap between them narrows slightly. We had tipped the visitors to win with 53 per cent confidence, but the match refused to settle into that pattern.

By then the rhythm had shifted. Corona stopped chasing and started defending in numbers, which is when these games often turn. To be fair, Rapid never looked like they would lose, but they also couldn't find that extra gear when it mattered. And here's the thing — the danger zone came at a point neither side expected.

Corona's recent form had been patchy at best. They came off a 26:26 stalemate against SCM Craiova and before that a 24:33 defeat to Bistriţa. Rapid had shown more bite, beating Iaşi 35:20 and Slatina 29:23 in their last two outings. Yet neither side carried that momentum into the final quarter.

The visitors pressed high and Corona sat deeper, a setup that suited neither team perfectly. Rapid created chances but Corona kept their heads when under pressure. Things came to a head in the closing stages, and neither side could break the deadlock. By then it was too late for either side to change the outcome.

Five points separate the two sides now, though Corona have played the same number of matches. The visitors still hold fourth place, but this was not the statement win they needed. Corona remain at the bottom half, yet they proved they could compete when it counted.