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Norway – Romania 29-24 (13-11)
Norwegian handball girls have only missed the Summer Olympics once in the last 40 years. This year it could happen again. After the surprising defeat against Montenegro yesterday, only the victory, and the victory with many goals, was enough for Norway today. Norway had to win by six goals to be ready for the Summer Olympics.
With fifteen seconds to go, Norway led by five. Therefore, they needed a goal to be ready for the Olympics.
They did not succeed.
– We couldn’t get any closer. What a drama. We had the advantage we needed, but we missed the opportunity, exclaimed commentator Asbjørn Myhre just after the match.
Norway continues to win by five goals and tomorrow can be decisive.
Norway must therefore hope that Montenegro will not lose by five goals against Romania tomorrow and that the Romanians will not score more than 29 goals. Therefore, Romania must win by five goals and score 30 goals or more for Norway to stand out.
– Unpleasant feeling
– I think we played the game fantastically well today. Against a very good Romanian team. I am proud of today’s result and achievement. The Olympic chances are much better today, but we are not quite ready. We have to wait for the result tomorrow and it is not a good feeling, national team coach Thorir Hergeirsson told TV Norway after the match.
Stine Bredal Oftedal was also satisfied with the performance, but still fears that the Olympic dream will come true.
– I think we play a good game. We really are on the move. Romania has a good team, we have fought them before. But of course it’s hard not to get the last goal at the end, he says and goes on.
– I still have an unpleasant feeling in my body, but today we are much closer to the Olympics than yesterday, said captain Stine Bredal Oftedal in the post-match interview.
Oftedal himself sits on the plane home when the fate of the Olympics is decided.
– It’s going to be awful. At least because we are going to Gyor, who is on the plane when it starts. It becomes very stressful.
The Norwegian girls were fully aware of the scenario that awaits them tomorrow and Stine Skogrand does not dare to cheer until the end of tomorrow’s match.
– It’s the only scenario that can knock us out. We can only hope that this is not the case. The Montenegro girls sat in the stands and cheered for Romania, Skogrand said, expressing skepticism about how hard Montenegro will play tomorrow.
Captain Oftedal also did not feel entirely safe in Montenegro tomorrow.
– I don’t think they bet on the result, but it remains to be seen, he said in the post-match interview.
Good start norwegian
Norway had a completely different attack today. Still, they couldn’t get away from Romania and after 10 minutes it was a 4-4 draw. That trend continued in the round and Norway failed to get the separation they wanted on the scoreboard.
But then after 20 minutes, Romania got two minutes and made the most of Norway. From a draw to a three-goal lead in two minutes was the final decision and Norway finally got some separation.
– Now they have done half the work, exclaimed commentator Asbjørn Myhre.
The fall of the Olympic heroes
Romania recovered further after being sent off, but Norway led by two at halftime. 13-11
– This was much better than yesterday, commented commentator Myhre.
– We were exactly where we needed to be on defense, thought handball expert Ida Alstad in the TV Norway studio.
– Negligence
In the second half, Norway continued to play well and after ten minutes they led by five.
– Now we only have to win the last 20 minutes with a goal, said Oustorp.
Norway went from leading by five to six goals in the final 15 minutes.
This will be nail biting and honing in the last few minutes, commentator Myhre thought.
Was much. With 15 seconds to go, Norway had the ball and needed a goal to secure an Olympic ticket. They did not succeed.
Norway must therefore await the result of the match between Romania and Montenegro tomorrow.
