Romania passes to Montenegro, but loses qualification for the Tokyo Olympics due to goal difference

Norwegian speculation, regarding a possible deal that would have brought Romania and Montenegro to the Olympics, was supported only at the beginning of the confrontation. The “tricolor” scored in each offensive action, being the novelty of the situation the diversity of shots and markers. With their focus on Neagu, Pristăviță, Moisă or Seraficeanu they had the chance to make easy shots. Crina Pintea, again a teacher, dominated the semicircle.

However, the defense was non-existent. The Romanian goalkeepers took only one shot in the first 30 minutes, and the half ended in a draw, score 15-15.

Romania, vain hopes at the end with Montenegro

The second half started as well as the first. The “Tricolors” separated with two goals and had the chance to reach a 3-shot lead. However, the 3 key moments of the Podgorica dispute followed:

• In the 38th minute, with the score of 19-17, even when Denisa Dedu offered an extra morale with two consecutive interventions, Cristina Neagu wasted a shot from 7 meters.
• In the 41st minute, Crina Pintea came in through the middle and was about to increase her team’s lead, but the shot went wide. The CSM Bucharest center burst into tears and did not stop until the end of the match (photo above).
• In the next action, Eliza Buceschi blew a new throw from 7 meters, guessed by Nenezic.

The ending was misleading. Romania broke away for the first time with 3 goals, when the timer showed 90 seconds to go. He reached 25 goals and aware that a 5-point foul would qualify them anyway, the Montenegrins made it easier for him in the end. It is not enough for “tricolor”.

22 goalsCristina Neagu scored in the matches with Norway and Montenegro, 11 in each dispute

FINAL: Romania – Montenegro 28-25

It’s over! Romania win 28-25, not enough for qualification!
min. 58: Buceschi risks everything, throws himself on the rival and scores. 27-25
min. 58: Neagu performs a counterattack on his own, defeats an opponent and drops to the ground. 26-25
min. 57: Neagu adds another goal, from 7 meters. 25-25
min. 56: Cristina Neagu scores the ninth goal of the dispute with Montenegro, with a strong shot, from the left wing. 24-24
min. 52: We get the ball off the offensive, but Buceschi takes steps. 22-23
min. 51: Seraficeanu takes a pretentious shot and scores alongside Nenezic. 22-23
min. fifty: Nenezic still has an exceptional intervention. Reach 13 parades. 21-23
min. fifty: Adi Vasile asks for the last time out! Ask the “tricolor” to play all the actions at full speed, to try to force the mistakes of the opponents. 21-23
min. 47: Cristina Neagu accelerates the attacks, throws in the first passes of the offensive scheme and scores. 20-20

min. Four. Five: Pristăvița is the most inspired “tricolor” player in the second half. Montenegro demands rest time. 20-19
min. 44: Cristina Neagu wastes another launch from 7 meters, on the 4th of this afternoon. 19-19
min. 42: Eliza Buceschi misses the shot from 7 meters. He recovers the ball, but returns it to the opponent’s goal. 19-19

min. 41: Crina Pintea is shown the red card for a hand on an opponent’s neck. 19-19

min. 40: We play inferior. Neagu defends himself man to man. The pint exits the ramp and restores numerical equality. 19-18

min. 38: Pristăvița bravely re-enters and shoots from 7 meters. You guessed it Neagu. 19-17
min. 37: Denisa Dedu is defending again! 19-17
min. 3. 4: Cristina Neagu sensationally surpasses her rival and reaches 6 hits. Denisa Dedu previously had the best parade of the day. 18-16
min. 31: Laura Moisă scores in the first offensive action of the second half. 16-15

The second half has begun! Montenegro is under attack.

min. 30: Eliza Buceschi scores in the last 10 seconds. The first half ends 15-15.
min. 30: The “Tricolors” retreat excellently and avoid a quick goal from the Montenegrins. 14-14
min. 28: The Neagu – Pintea combination pays off again. CSM Bucharest pivot reaches 4 successes. 14-14
min. 28: Romania’s goal took a single pitch in the first half. Montenegro leads for the first time. Adi Vasile calls for time out.13-14
min. 27: Cristina Neagu hits the crossbar again, this time from a 7-meter throw. 13-13
min. 26: Neagu takes the ball, Mehmedovic recovers the ball and throws it from goal to goal. 13-13
min. 24: Pletikosic gets the red card for a tough tackle with his arms at head level. Neagu scores in the next action. 13-11
min. 2. 3: Crina Pintea scores again and gets an important elimination, for Jaukovic. 12-11
min. 22: Pintea spins with two opponents behind and throws under the bar. 11-10
min. twenty: The “tricolor” offense works at a high altitude. The defense can’t get any useful balls out so far. Kim Rasmussen, coach of Montenegro, calls for time out. 10-9
min. 19: Neagu scores the first goal of the action, with a kick from the legs, in the last pass of the attack. 9-8
min. 19: Jaukovic returned to throw unstoppable from a great distance. It is the main marker of Montenegrins. 8-8
min. 17: Pintea heroically fights in the semicircle and recovers a ball defended by Nenezic. Seraficeanu scores from a very small angle. 8-6
min. fifteen: The Montenegrins defend themselves much more aggressively than in the opening minutes. However, Pristăvita finds a corridor next to Mehmedovic. 7-6
min. 12: Cristina Neagu is saved in the defensive phase. 6-5
min. eleven: Neagu draws the ball to the far right. Moisés forces the penetration and executes a penalty. Cristina doesn’t react this time either. 6-5
min 10: Romania has two players eliminated, and Montenegro benefits from a shot from 7 meters, transformed by Radicevic. 5-4
min. 8: The first failed launch of the “tricolor” is by Cristina Neagu. Goalkeeper Nenezic left a saving arm. 5-3
min. 6: However, a strong succession carries the ball to the extreme right, towards Laura Moisă. CSM Bucharest handball player scores. 5-3
min. 5: Crina Pintea gets a shot from 7 meters and two minutes of elimination for Jaukovic. Neagu transforms. 4-2
min. 5: Florica manages to score a goal. The launch was pretentious, placed close to the crossbar. 3-2
min. 4: Jaukovic drills a strong left-footed shot. Dumanska had no time to react. 2-2
min. 1: Eliza Buceschi scores from the problematic position of recent years, that of the inter-right. 1-0

The game has started! Romania has the first attack.

Qualification of the pre-Olympic tournament

• The first two teams qualify for the Olympics.

27-26was the result of the last direct match between Montenegro and Romania, in the 2019 World Championship groups

Read other news about the Podgorica Pre-Olympic Tournament