Norway dispatch Chile, can almost touch Tokyo
13 Mar. 2021
Norway made light work of Chile this evening as they made it two wins from two in Podgorica at the Tokyo Handball Qualification 2020 – Men's Tournament 1.
However, their 15-goal (38:23) result did not tell the whole story as the South American nation rested their main starting team, with Erwin Feuchtmann, Emil Feuchtmann (who played just 16 seconds), Marco Oneto, Victor Donoso, Javier Frelijj and Rodrigo Salinas sitting on the bench for the entire game as they save themselves for a unique clash against Brazil tomorrow which, mathematics permitting, could secure a Tokyo 2020 ticket.
TOURNAMENT 1
Norway vs Chile 38:23 (19:10)
With dreams of 1972 in their minds, Bjarte Myrhol and his Norwegian teammates have gone online to the Tokyo Tourist Office website, confirmed all their selections for a July and August stay and are just waiting to click on the ‘Confirm Package’ button.
They can almost taste and smell Japan such are the mathematics which have to be in place on the final day tomorrow for them not to qualify, but they know there is still a job to do.
Norway coach Christian Berge certainly was not taking any chances, allowing nearly all of his team significant minutes on court, including the recently added goalkeeper Espen Christensen who played the second half and left back Simen Holand Pettersen.
The fact that Christensen and his counterpart Kristian Saeveras made just five saves in the entire 60 minutes says more about the Chilean attack than the goalkeeping quality, but that was to be expected with Mateo Garralda confirming to ihf.info after the match that the focus was on a four-goal win against Brazil tomorrow, which, coupled with a Korea loss, would see his side make history and qualify for their first-ever Olympic Games.
It took Chile four minutes to open their account (1:2) and just under eight minutes to take their first time out (1:6), but a 19:10 Norway half-time lead said all that was needed to say about where the game was going in the second half.
Moments of the second period offered a glimpse into how the game was being played out – a Felipe Garcia seven-metre save from Sander Sagosen prompted smiles all around, while a 46th minute in-flight goal from Norway – yes Norway – dispatched by Harald Reinkind into the net after the right back was served by Magnus Fredriksen, put them 28:16 ahead.
The next five minutes saw Chile pick up the pace, coming within 10 (30:20, 31:21, 32:22) but Norway breezed through and can look towards tomorrow.
“It was an important win for us, we as players expected a more difficult game today than it became but I can understand Chile’s point of view,” said Norway’s Magnus Gullerud. “It was important for us to win and take a huge step towards the Olympic Games.”
“We met a different Chile with many new players,” added Berge. “I can understand Chile as they have an opportunity tomorrow to advance so they are looking for that one. We played a good game and have many different trainings for our 5:1 and played a little bit 7vs6 so it was a nice game.”
The only negative of the night for Berge was a red card for Kent Robin Tonnesen after he picked up his third two-minute suspension early in the second half (37th minute), but even though Chile had essentially a second string, by that time they had already turned the ball over 18 times in 38 attacks – something which will drastically need to change for tomorrow’s day of destiny.
Photo: Stefan Ivanovic/RSCG