Strong finish earns Sweden win in fast-paced contest

16 Jul. 2019

Strong finish earns Sweden win in fast-paced contest

The closing round one match for Group B at the 2019 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship delivered just the exciting, fast-paced 60 minutes expected. In the end, it was Sweden who came out on top, collecting their first set of two points with a six-goal win.

 

At the conclusion of round one, France, Egypt and Sweden sit on top of the group following their respective victories.

 

GROUP B
Sweden vs Republic of Korea 34:28 (16:16)

 

Sweden and Republic of Korea played an almost entirely equal match that got both teams off to a running start at Spain 2019, but in the end, it was a stronger final quarter from the European side that won them the game.

 

There was no time to settle in and shake off nerves, as both sides played at a fast pace from the first whistle. The score line was greater than one goal only once in the opening half, when Republic of Korea pulled in front to 12:10 off a penalty scored by Rakchan Kim. Apart from that, the score was consistently level or alternating between one-goal leads for each side.

 

It was 10 minutes into the second half when Sweden began to create the deciding difference, as they hit a three-goal lead, 21:18, thanks to a goal from right wing Samuel Lindberg. Korea changed their defensive formation during the game, ultimately favouring a 5-1 system as they fought to close the gap in the second 30 minutes. However, Sweden clearly had more power in the final stages.

 

With 15 minutes remaining, Sweden led 23:19. After Gustaf Banke saved a penalty shot early in the first half, his counterpart Erik Hvenfelt did the same, coming in to face the seven-metre throw in the 48th at 25:21. That was a critical save, paving the way for Sweden to briefly open a larger gap, 27:22 in the 52nd, before a spectacular fast-break save from Minseok Kim helped Korea reclaim some momentum.

 

However, they could not come closer than a four-goal margin, and Sweden’s victory was assured when Ludvig Jurmala Astrom took Sweden to 32:27 with three minutes on the clock.

 

Player of the match: Gustav Davidsson, Sweden