The Norwegians will face the Hungarian handball players of Györ, five-time European champions, on Sunday, who qualified earlier at the expense of Esbjerg (32-27).
The Messines had a complicated start to the game, going under the Norwegian steamroller for about twenty minutes, under the blows of Czech left-back Marketa Jerabkova.
But the coming into play in goal of young Mélanie Halter (19) to replace Ivana Kapitanovic revived the Dragonnes.
While Kristiansand had a +6 ball with Nora Mork (13-8), Halter made her first save, and the Messines regained the score, then took the advantage of a goal at the break thanks to Laura Kanor (15-14).
Upon returning from the locker room, Emmanuel Mayonnade's players returned with the same intentions, leading by one goal for the first five minutes.
But in the cage of Kristiansand, Katrine Lunde closed the shop (sixteen saves), while the Norwegians again found the solutions in attack, the surprise effect of Mélanie Halter having passed.
The end of the match was difficult for Kristiansand, who squandered part of their lead of seven goals (28-21) at the start of the last ten minutes.
Metz came back to four goals (29-25) seven minutes from the end, but Jerabkova (twelve goals in total in the game) carried her team to the final, like the performance of Henny Reistad who carried Kristiansand to the title.
Messina Orlane Kanor attacking the Kristiansand Kristiansan Vipers in Budapest, June 4, 2022 Ferenc Isza AFP
The Messines will try to remobilize to get on the podium against Esbjerg on Sunday, which they failed to do in 2019 against Kristiansand, after a defeat in the semis against the Russians of Rostov.
For their part, Nora Mork's teammates will challenge Györ, who will once again be supported by more than 15,000 spectators in the Budapest Dome.
Mork will aim for a sixth continental crown, having already won the C1 with Larvik (2011), Györ (2017, 2018 and 2019) and Kristiansand (2021).
© 2022 AFP