The first 2019 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship eighth-final in Pavillon Municipal de Deportes de Pontevedra saw Denmark secure a place in the quarter-finals thanks to a one-goal win over Hungary. It was a close fight to the end, with the score level with two minutes on the clock before Denmark pulled ahead and held on to claim the win. 

EIGHTH-FINAL 
Denmark vs Hungary 30:29 (16:14)

They were a late entry to the 2019 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, booking their place as a substitute nation following a 12th-place finish at the U20 EHF EURO last summer – but Denmark proved they are deserved participants at Spain 2019, as they became the first quarter-finalists confirmed in Pontevedra on Wednesday. 

As Hungary were fourth-ranked in their preliminary group, it seemed group winners Denmark were the favourites ahead of the game. However, just as their U21 team had done at the 2017 Junior World Championship, also led by coach Janos Gyurka, Hungary’s performance improved dramatically after several disappointing games in the preliminary round. The result was a close game where nothing was decided until the whistle sounded. 

Hungary even took the upper hand several times in the first half, leading 9:8 in the 18th minute and 11:10 in the 20th. With their keeper Christoffer Bonde winning the contest between the posts, with nine saves in the first 30 minutes, and Emil Jakobsen (11 goals total) and Emil Laerke top scoring for the Scandinavian side with four goals each in the opening half, Denmark created a two-goal edge by half-time. 

Coming into the game to replace Kristof Gyori, Martin Nagy stopped two of the five shots that came his way in the last minutes of the period to help keep Hungary within touching distance at the break. A direct red card for Marcell Gabor in the last seconds of the first half hurt Hungary’s chances a little, and Denmark were able to create a more decisive gap in the early stages of the second period. 

The squad that claimed the bronze medal at the 2017 IHF Men’s Youth World Championship held a steady advantage that changed between one and three goals through until the 58th minute, when Hungary pulled the game level, 28:28, once more. It was an important save from Gyori followed by goal from Dominik Mathe – his 10th and final strike – that gave Hungary hope with the equal score. 

However, Denmark clinched the win with the next two goals of the game and a critical save from Bonde in the 59th minute. 

Player of the match: Emil Laerke, Denmark