It was a long and extremely nerve-wracking quarter-final match between Norway and Spain on Wednesday. The Spaniards equalized Norway’s one-goal lead in the last second of normal time and the match went to extra time. After a decisive goal from the match’s top scorer Kristian Bjørnsen in the second extra period, the score was 29-29, and two more extra periods were needed before the winner was chosen. But the Norwegians fell short and the Spaniards could cheer for advancing to the semi-finals of the Handball World Cup. – It’s really going according to plan, we keep the ball going and then the referees judge passively when we don’t go for the goal chance. That is what Bjørnsen is depressed about now. It is not so easy to know, it is a tenth decision. We have to back him a little more now, said national team coach Jonas Wille after the loss to TV 3. Norway’s dream start Quick counterattacks, good defensive play and a solid last chance characterized the first part of the first half for Norway, but the Spaniards took advantage of Norwegian sloppiness in attack and brought Norway’s four-goal lead . Christian O’Sullivan opened the ball with a shot at an open goal and Norway pressed on from the start with several scores from Kristian Bjørnsen. TOP SCORER: Kristian Bjørnsen was the match’s top scorer with nine goals. Photo: Piotr Hawalej / AP Sander Sagosen scored the first two minutes of the match, giving Spain a penalty. But Torbjørn Bergerud stretched his leg high and far out and helped Kauldi Odriozola’s ball off target. Spain saw themselves forced to take a timeout already after 7 and a half minutes. But the timeout did not help much, because soon after Bergerud saved two Spanish goal attempts in ten seconds. Sagosen got his second two minutes before the quarter had been played. And the Spanish took advantage of that. – It is certainly a small crisis that we have played for 14 minutes and Sagosen already has two two-minutes, said news’s commentator Patrick Sten Rowlands. Take the lead Within a minute and a half, Spain were up to speed as Ángel Fernández Pérez made it 7-7 with an open goal. The eaten-up lead left its mark on the Norwegian team, who struggled in the following minutes. But an important penalty by Sebastian Barthold sent Norway back into the lead. GOAL STRAIGHT: World Cup debutant Sebastian Barthold became an important goalscorer for Norway. Photo: JANEK SKARZYNSKI / AFP The Spaniards quickly came back against a more passive Norwegian national team and after 20 minutes Spain took the lead for the first time in the match. From here it was dangerously even. Sagosen was left lying down after a blow to the face, but luckily got back up. Norway took back control and kept the lead until the break 13–12. – We started the match very well, we got it exactly the way we wanted it. But then Spain’s defenders are up and “sliding” and cutting angles and we make a little too many technical mistakes and they also get the counter on us for a period. It’s nice to be able to turn it around again. We are on the right track, but it is a difficult game, said assistant coach Martin Boquist to news during the break. news’s handball expert Håvard Tvedten agreed: – What we are focusing on here is our own defensive play, we waste too many simple balls. We have to be on the alert and be safer in our passing choices. Even second half The Spaniards quickly regained Norway’s one-goal lead after the break. And although the Norwegians almost gain control of the game, the Spaniards manage to magically break through the Norwegian wall and equalize time and time again. Spain took the lead 20–19 after a free throw from Adrià Figueras, and the Spanish last chance saved Norway’s comeback. But Bergerud also stopped the Spaniards’ attempt at a two-goal lead and Kristian Bjørnsen sealed the Spanish lead soon after. The teams followed each other closely and Norway took back the lead with one less man on the pitch, when Gøran Søgard Johannessen scored a two-minute goal after 45 minutes. TOP SCORER: Kristian Bjørnsen was the match’s top scorer with nine goals. Photo: Piotr Hawalej / AP Both the Norwegian and Spanish final chances offer beautiful saves and Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas made it difficult for the Norwegians to pull away from the Spaniards. Kristian Sæverås saved what news’s commentator Rowlands called “a miserable penalty” from Joan Cañella’s Reixach. Again, Bjørnsen showed off his throwing arm and scored his seventh goal in seven attempts. – He has been the security himself. If you are ever going to put your money in a bank, put it in “Bank Bjørnsen”, Rowlands exclaimed on news Radio. It was 24-24 after 54 minutes when Jonas Wille took a timeout. Johannessen got his second two minutes when there were only three minutes left and Spain had the opportunity to make it 25-25. PENALTY SAVINGS: Kristian Sæverås saved two penalties. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB – Is it possible? But Sæverås saves another penalty in extravagant fashion. – It is important!, exclaimed Tvedten. And soon after, Norway is in the lead when Spain got a two-minute advantage. Sagosen was put to rest once again, but there will be no further expulsion. – It is a brave referee’s decision, so to speak, said Tvedten about the questionable judgement. Norway led by one goal with 38 seconds remaining and the Spaniards took a timeout. Bergerud then made a particularly important save, but with three seconds left the referee blew for passive Norwegian play and the Spaniards stormed towards the Norwegian goal. – Bjørnsen has a clear path to the goal, chooses not to take the finish, said a despairing Rowlands. Daniel Dujsjebajev sends the match to extra time with a goal in the last second. – Is it possible, is it possible? It burned, said a despairing Tvedten. MATCHMAKER: Daniel Dujshebaev was the decisive player for Spain. Photo: JANEK SKARZYNSKI / AFP Extra nerve-wracking extra time – They threw this away, said commentator Rowlands before the extra time. Twice five minutes were the turn and the opponents from the Iberian Peninsula started with the ball in the first extra period. Nevertheless, it was Norway that took the lead with Harald Reinkind. But as in the second half, the Spaniards equalized for every Norwegian score and after five minutes of play it was 27-27. In the second extra period, Spain pulled away when the Spanish goalkeeper Vargas saved two Norwegian goal attempts. Then it looked horribly dark seen from Norwegian eyes. But Bjørnsen equalized at 29-29 and the Norwegian defender prevented another Spanish finish. Thus, it was clear for two new extra rounds in this rollercoaster of a quarter-final. Norway started the third extra period with one man less when O’Sullivan got a two-minute goal in the last second of the second extra period. – There are some Spaniards who look extra tired there now, said Tvedten. – This is the fight that will never end, added Rowlands. Norway received a penalty, and Sagosen puts it high on the crossbar. But the Norwegian lead of 32-31 did not last long. Spain could have taken the lead, but Bergerud made his 18th save of the match, and the defense blocked the rebound. In the fourth extra round it was 33-32, 33-33, 34-33 and 34-34. The teams followed each other like teasing. But then Dujshebaev sent Spain into the lead 35-34. And Norway misses the return. The match was stopped to look at a possible Norwegian penalty, but it will not be. And Norway lost at the last second after a long and tough match.
ttn-69
Norway out of the handball WC after highly dramatic extra rounds – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
