Eighth-final in Ohrid

Norway – Brazil 26:29 (12:16)

The competitor for Montenegro is clear. In an eighth-final that surged back and forth, Brazil beat the team from Norway with 29:26. It was an exciting knock-out match that once saw Brazil in the better position, once Norway. The initial stages of the match belonged to the Pan-Americans, when they made it – after an equal begin with 2:2 - up to 7:2 with five goals in a row. At this time the Norwegian team did not find means to break through the Brazilian defence and their strong goalkeeper. Whatever the Scandinavians tried, the Brazilians always had the right answer and kept a four-goal lead up to the end of the first 30 minutes (16:12).

Right after the break the Brazilians lost control by first leading 17:13 (32.) and only four minutes later Norway was ahaed at 17:19. The match was turned upside down. But Norway kept the lead only for several minutes, when Brazil scored six times in a row and was in lead with 24:20. But that was only the overture to a dramatic final stage. Three minutes later Norway had reduced the gap to 25:27 and played six players against four for more than a minute. But finally they missed this last chance to come closer, and the Brazilans were counting down the minutes, while Norway has to go to the placement matches for the places 9 to 16.

Eighth-final in Strumica

Croatia – Romania 22:28 (12:12)

Bitter pill for Croatia: Oone of the favorites of this Women´s Youth (U18) World Championship ist out of the competition. With 22:28 they lost their eighth-final against the team of Romania and are now heading for the placement matches for the places 9 to 16. Romania on the other hand will play against Netherlands on Wednesday for the semi-finals. It was an impressive performance of the Romanian girls, especially during the second half. In the first thirty minutes they still showed respect of the Croates. But the longer the match took, the better they came into the match. After a 12:12 at break they controlled the match during the second half and built up a sovereign lead as they scored four times in a row from 14:14 (36.) up to 18:14 (41.). From now on they defended their lead until the final stages of this match. Croatia came close but did not reach a draw (20:21, 51.). At last Romania was the better team and won well-deserved.