Round two for Group A at the 2019 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship opened with Slovenia adding their second victory in two matches, as they defeated Japan decisively in a game that was decided only in the final 10 minutes. Slovenia thereby moved up to four points on the Group A table, while Japan remained on zero following their round one loss to Serbia. 

GROUP A
Japan vs Slovenia 22:29 (12:16)

After completely dominating the match versus Tunisia in round one at the 2019 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, Slovenia had more trouble against Japan. The Asian team could match the European champions’ pace, which nullified one of Slovenia’s most important weapons. As a result, Japan were able to make Slovenia quite uncomfortable, and keep within reach for 50 minutes before the European team pulled away to a clear win. 

It was not until the sixth minute that the first goal was scored from positional attack, and it came from Japan’s Sota Takano after Slovenia added the first goal of the match with a penalty scored by captain Domen Novak. After Japan’s first goal, Slovenia were quick to respond with a counter-attack goal from back-court ace Gregor Ocvirk, and that was when the match really began. 

Japan coach Akira Yoshimura constantly changed his tactics and wasted no time in getting started. He replaced goalkeeper Kai Takahashi as early as the sixth minute, when he had not made any saves but had faced just two shots. In the seventh minute, 1:3, Japan switched to seven-on-six in attack, and employed that tactic through until the 21st, when the match remained on the edge at 10:11. 

Slovenia coach Sasa Prapotnik also changed his keeper early, though Mark Ferjan had a strong opening with a rate of 40% after 10 minutes. At the end of the first quarter, Slovenia changed to 5-1 defence and brought on keeper Gasper Dobaj, who proved a key factor in deciding the match with his 11 saves at 40%.  

In the last 10 minutes of the first half, Slovenia created a crucial difference, thanks to a 6:2 run that propelled them to a four-goal lead in time for the break. Japan briefly closed the gap in the second half, but in the last quarter Slovenia reopened the distance, despite Japan again employing their effective seven-on-six, which allowed no long-range shots into the empty goal. 

When coach Yoshimura called his final time-out in the 54th minute, Slovenia had pulled ahead to a six-goal advantage at 26:20, and when they stayed in front by seven in the 56th, the two points were clearly decided. 

Player of the match: Kristjan Horzen, Slovenia