Serbia, Chile and the Chinese Taipei secured better finishes at North Macedonia 2024, with wins in the last matches of the day in the Jane Sandanski Sports Center in Skopje in the President's Cup.

PRESIDENT’S CUP
Placement Matches 21-24
Tunisia vs Serbia 26:27 (15:15)

Serbia earned a hard-fought win against Tunisia and will now fight for the 21st place on Friday at North Macedonia 2024 against Argentina, while the African side will meet with a well-known opponent, Guinea.

Serbia forced Tunisia into turnovers early in the match and opened the proceedings with a 3:0 run. Even though they had a chance to further widen the gap they failed to do so, with the African side quickly answering with their own 3:0 run.

While left wing Nataša Čeković kept Serbia in a narrow lead, Aya Boudhaouia started her series of saves between Tunisia's posts, helping her side to take their first lead in the game, which eventually grew to 13:9. 

After seven minutes without a goal scored, Anja Vujnović became the fulcrum of Serbia’s attack, netting two straight goals from the right wing. It prompted a Tunisia team time-out, yet this did not help, as the two sides entered the break into a stalemate, 15:15.

The second half brought the same force from both sides. They were trading leads and efficient attacks, as both stepped up a gear. They converted around 57% of shots in the first half, but for the first ten minutes of the second half, they were at 65% both.

Every time Serbia managed to stretch out their lead boosted by goalkeeper Teodora Vranic and their back court line, Tunisia responded well and made a comeback. 

It was a cat-and-mouse game until the end. Tunisia tried to level in the closing minutes using seven-against-six but a lack of communication between players produced turnovers which stood in their way of a possible win. Serbia entered the last minute with a 27:26 lead and kept it until the final buzzer despite Tunisia's unbelievable try to score from a free throw from their side of the court.

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Nataša Ćetković (Serbia)
 

Placement Matches 25-28

Chinese Taipei vs Uzbekistan 39:32 (20:13)

When the Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan clashed last time at the 2023 Asian Women's Junior Handball Championship, the match ended in a draw (37:37). This game at North Macedonia 2024 was different, as Uzbekistan could keep up for only 20 minutes.

Both teams were determined and showed fighting spirit. It was nip and tuck in the first 20 minutes and neither side had more than a two-goal advantage. But then, it was Chinese Taipei's goalkeeper Hsin Yun Wu, who became her team's fulcrum. A plethora of saves fuelled a goal run as Chinese Taipei set 15:11 five minutes before the halftime break.

Uzbekistan called for a team time-out, but even changes in attack could not break the opponent's solid defence. At the same time, right back Yi Ling Lien seemed unstoppable and gave her best effort to build a seven-goal lead. Not much changed in the next 30 minutes as Chinese Taipei hit the first double-digit lead in the 37th minute.

The unassailable lead could not have been made without Hsin Yun Wu's efforts who closed the day with an astonishing 25 saves at 48 percent save efficiency. Left back Sevinch Erkabaeva once again shone for Uzbekistan with nine goals. This is the first time in their five World Championship appearances, that Chinese Taipei passed the 29-goal mark, thus reaching a new milestone after beating Uzbekistan 39:32.

Czechia await Chinese Taipei on Friday and Uzbekistan will test their skill against their fellow continental opponent Islamic Republic of Iran.

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Yi Ling Lien (Chinese Taipei)

Placement Matches 29-32
Chile vs Algeria 34:33 a.p. (25:25, 12:16)

Chile proved resilience and earned an important win against Algeria, after a dramatic penalty shoot-out drama. 

The South American side had a hard time adjusting to the rhythm imposed by their opponents, and had to play from behind throughout the whole match. Algeria used a 5-0 unanswered run to set a comfortable gap after only 15 minutes as centre back Hanane Makdoud and right back Lyna Yelles scored six out of their 10 goals.

While Algeria were focused on their attacking efficiency, Chile's lack of depth came to light. Four of the same players kept trying to break the African defence and this led to 14 turnovers at the break. However, Chile goalkeeper Paula Craig Ortiz saved a couple shots  and allowed her team to melt Algeria's lead.

It seemed like a completely new Chile came out to the court in the second half as the South American side toughened in defence and produced a 4:0 run, levelling with Algeria, 16:16. 

Lyna Yelles came to the rescue for the African side, netting two times in a row and ending their eighth-minute-long goal drought and lifting Algeria to a new lead. 

However, Chile pulled another comeback and brought a thrilling finish in Skopje. 30 seconds before the final whistle, Constanza Paul scored for 25:24, only for Ines Aissa to level from the seven-metre shot, with the winners decided in a penalty shootout. 

In the first set of five penalties, each team missed two ties. Other five seven-metre shots were taken by each team and all were successful, until the start of the third round of five penalties, where Chile came on top with a secure shot by Isidora Valdivieso.

Chile will duel with their fellow friends from the United States of America on Friday and Algeria will try to win against Mexico in Placement Match 31-32.

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Constanza Paul (Chile)