Norway and Slovenia were already assured of advancement to the main round after Poland beat the Faroe Islands earlier this evening. Nevertheless, the Norwegians and Slovenians had a lot to fight for – two important points. – If we win today, we go in with two points. If we do that, we can play with slightly lower shoulders and suffer a loss. Although we go to every match to win, Kent Robin Tønnesen told news before the match. But after a nerve-wracking match, Norway drags on in the EC. This makes Norway’s path to the EC play-offs much more difficult, and the national team is most likely dependent on winning all the games in the main round. Sander Sagosen. Photo: NTB – This is fair play Slovenia scored the first two goals of the match, but then Norway tightened the grip. After Sander Sagosen scored 5-4, Norway maintained a narrow lead for a long time. The Slovenians kept getting closer, and when Alexander Blonz missed a free throw for Norway, Gasper Marguc countered nicely and reduced the score to 8–7. Norway recovered, but were unable to shake off the Slovenians. With six minutes left in the first half, it was 14-14 after two goals by Aleks Vlah. STRONG: Aleks Vlah broke through and scored five goals for Slovenia in the first half. Photo: Reuters Then there were a few nerve-wracking minutes after Sagosen increased the score to 15-14. The same man tackled a Slovenian player, who was left lying down. The referee duo chose to watch the incident in a replay, and neither players nor commentators could understand why. – Scandal, I would call it if there was a red card, said news’s handball expert Håvard Tvedten. But it ended with a two-minute, which commentators and players weren’t thrilled about either. Slovenia then chose to play with five players. – They believe that there is no expulsion and then the linesman is left. This is fair play. Then they play five against five. It’s so lovely to see and I applaud it. They also did that in the previous game. They believe that they will never be deported either, said news’s commentator Patrick Sten Rowlands. But Norway continued to leak backwards and it was tied at 17-17 at the break. – We concede far too many goals. They isolated us too much in the middle. We have to ensure a tight circle and move more, Tvedten concluded after the first half hour. – Very, very weak Norway’s assistant coach Martin Boquist thought the match started well, but that Slovenia were skilled at making quick decisions. – They are tricks. We have to try to defend five more seconds. We will do what we are good at, which is running. Then we will probably win this match, he told news before the second half. Norway were effective in the first minutes of the second half. And as in the first half, Grøndahl was safe from the penalty spot. Tobias Grøndahl was safe from the penalty spot. Photo: NTB Shortly afterwards, Norway missed three times in a row. After 40 minutes, Slovenia equalized at 21–21. – It is very, very weak, said Tvedten. After five minutes, Slovenia took the lead when Dean Bombac scored 23-24. Then the Slovenians were severely punished by the referees with two two-minute penalties. Norway took advantage of that, and Grøndahl equalized for Norway on a free throw. Three out of three for the 22-year-old from the penalty spot. Slovenia’s last chance Urban Lesjak was certainly in goal, and Norway was unable to score more goals during the double two-minute period. The teams continued to follow each other closely, and it was 27-27 two minutes before the end. Then Petter Øverby was given a two-minute time limit to keep on the line. With a man down, Slovenia took the lead after Vlah’s seventh goal of the day. Norway was unable to equalise, and Slovenia won 27–28. – There are very small margins, says Tvedten.
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Norway goes on empty-handed in the EC after a handball thriller – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
