2024-01-15 21:10:09
Next surprise at the European Handball Championship: co-favorite Norway lost the direct duel for group victory once morest Slovenia 27:28 (17:17) and therefore travels to the main round in Hamburg without any points.
He decided the game in Berlin: Slovenia’s keeper Urban Lesjak. Sascha Klahn
Maximilian Schmidt reports from Berlin
After the great disappointment in the second European Championship preliminary round game – only 26:26 once morest European Championship debutants Faroe Islands – Norway tried to make amends. And at the same time, there was a lot at stake in the group final once morest Slovenia, who had held themselves unscathed so far. It was regarding which of the two teams with 2-0 points would travel on to the main round in Hamburg.
But as in the first group game once morest Poland, the Norwegians slept through the initial phase. At the start, coach Jonas Wille’s team was 3-0 down and scored for the first time following four and a half minutes. This time Slovenia quickly led 2-0. But the Norwegians quickly got back to their game and benefited from their opponents’ technical errors, which were punished coldly with counterattacks.
“Zorman-Libero” works once more
When the Slovenians were down 5:8, national coach Uros Zorman took his first time out. After that, Slovenia actually reduced the score to 7:8. And the slight underdog in this game remained stubborn (14:14). One special scene stuck: After Norway received a time penalty, Slovenia used the “Zorman-Libero” as they did once morest Poland – and it worked once more. Former Kieler Miha Zarabec scored the 15:15.
We also went into the break with a draw because Aleks Vlah – the best Slovenian thrower (seven goals) – converted a seven-meter penalty as time expired. For Norway, superstar Sander Sagosen and right winger Kristian Björnsen were the best throwers with four goals each. Meanwhile, the goalkeepers didn’t play a big role, which is also documented by the high half-time score of 17:17 – Erlangen’s Klemen Ferlin was the best keeper of the game with four saves.
Ex-Recke Lesjak is running hot
After the break, a tough game developed at times, which was more reminiscent of a friendly than a playoff. Norway often presented, but Slovenia always found an answer. At 24:23 (46th), Zorman’s team took the lead once more for the first time since the 5th minute (3:2) – a violent throw from Dean Bombac surprised keeper Torbjörn Bergerud.
On the other hand, substitute Urban Lesjak (at TSV Hannover-Burgdorf from 2018 to 2022) was hot in the Slovenian box and quickly had a 40 percent catch rate with six saves. In the final phase, a thriller loomed that Berlin should also get: Zarabec made the decision with the advantage at the beginning of the last minute of the game and found Vlah, who put the Norwegians under pressure with the score 28:27 for Slovenia.
During a timeout, Wille called on his team once more, but Sagosen only hit the jump shot into the block. With their third win, Slovenia, whose keeper Lesjak (9 saves) was rightly named “Player of the Match”, takes 2-0 points to Hamburg – Norway is already under enormous pressure from the start of the main round.
Norway – Slovenia 27:28 (17:17)
Norway: Bergerud (7 Parade), Säveras (2 Parade) – Sagosen 6, Gröndahl 5/4, Björnsen 4, Överby 4, Barthold 3, Reinkind 2, Gullerud 1, Lyse 1, Setterblom 1, Blonz, Gulliksen, Jakobsen, Johannessen, O ‘Sullivan
Slovenia: Ferlin (4 Paraden, davon 1 Siebenmeter), Lesjak (9 Paraden) – Vlah 7/1, Blagotinsek 5, Bombac 3, Dolenec 3, Mackovsek 3, Cehte 2, Marguc 2, Jovicic 1, Kodrin 1, Zarabec 1, Drobez, Horzen, Novak, Suholeznik
Referee: Charlotte Bonaventura (France)/Julie Bonaventura (France)
Viewers: 13.336
Penalty minutes: 6 / 18
Disqualification: – / –
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#Slovenia #ice #cold #Norway #falls #travels #Hamburg #points
