A crazy finish to the match helped Norway clinch a last-gasp 26:25 win against Hungary, where Hungary had the chance to secure the win with eight seconds left, missed an one-on-one chance, with the Scandinavian side taking advantage and scoring the winning goal in the last second, 26:25.

Norway became the first team in the men's handball competition at Paris 2024 to secure a quarter-finals berth, as they cannot fall lower than the fourth place in the standings.

PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES – PRELIMINARY ROUND
GROUP В
Norway vs Hungary 26:25 (11:13)

A win would have sent Norway through to the quarter-finals, as the Scandinavian side would have built a three-match winning streak, their best-ever start in history at the Olympic Games. But Hungary were no pushovers, despite their first-round loss against Egypt, and provided a big challenge, especially after shrugging off a slow start.

Norway took a 3:1 lead early in the match, but Hungary bounced back with a 3:0 unanswered run, spurred by two goals from left wing Bendeguz Boka. The two teams started trading goals and leads, but it was Hungary which looked stronger and more composed, having everything to play for, facing what probably a situation where a win was crucial.

Hungary’s defence, led by goalkeeper Kristof Palasics, one of the main players for the runners-up at the 2023 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, then started to take control, preventing Norway to scored for six minutes and 44 seconds. And another 3:0 run from Hungary opened their largest lead, 11:8, after 24 minutes, with a fantastic outing from Palasics, who finished the first half with nine saves and a 45% saving efficiency.

But Norway knew what was at stake and they quickly tied the score, 14:14, after 37 minutes, with an excellent performance from left wing Alexander Blonz, a player who was born just mere kilometres from the South Paris Arena 6, where the matches in the men’s handball competition at Paris 2024, are played. 

Blonz had seven goals by that time, half of Norway’s tally, yet could only see his team try to mount a comeback, coming from behind all the time, as Hungary controlled the gap, boasting a one or two-goal lead throughout the second half, when 20-year-old right wing Bence Imre took control with ice in his veins and became the team’s top scorer, with six goals.

But with seven minutes left in the match, the teams were still tied, 22:22, with the rhythm dropping a bit, as both Palasics and his counterpart, Torbjorn Bergerud, enjoyed a good outing in the first match of the third round of the men’s handball competition at Paris 2024, trading saves, just as the two teams traded goals.

Surprisingly, coach Jonas Wille did not rely on Sander Sagosen in the dying minutes of the match, instead putting his trust into the other left back in the roster, Simen Ulstad Lyse. And Lyse delivered three consecutive goals to help Norway wrestle back the lead, 25:24, with two minutes to go, applying the pressure on Hungary.

And the end was absolutely crazy. Norway misplaced passes in two attacks, providing a chance for Hungary to take the win. However, goalkeeper Torbjorn Bergerud saved a one-on-one situation with Bence Imre with eight seconds to go, Norway went on the attack and Blonz scored the decider with one second left, his eighth goal of the match providing Norway with the crucial win, 26:25.

The third win in as many matches for Norway brings the Scandinavian side through to the next phase of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while they still have to face Egypt and Denmark, while Hungary have the toughest schedule, with Denmark and France coming next.