After their disappointment of losing against France in their Egypt 2021 opener on Thursday (14 January), Christian Berge’s Norway got their first points of the 27th IHF Men’s World Championship, defeating the late replacement team Switzerland 31:25 after pulling ahead just before half-time.
 
GROUP E 
Switzerland vs Norway 25:31 (13:17)
 
The whirlwind which Switzerland arrived in Egypt by was brought down to earth by Sander Sagosen and his Norwegian teammates tonight, with the 1,95m left back top-scoring again, with 11 goals – 21 in two games.
 
Berge welcomed back Christian O’Sullivan to his squad of 16 after the centre back missed the France defeat due to a stomach bag, and he was joined in the line up for the first time in Egypt by right wing Kevin Maagero Gulliksen. Petter Overby and Elvind Tangen, who had played against the French, sat this one out.
 
The opening 60 seconds were blistering, with three goals (2:1 to Switzerland) and two impressive saves from Swiss goalkeeper Aurel Bringolf, including one from a Sagosen bullet.
 
But in a preview of what was to come later in the half, the Norwegians went on a run, turning around a 3:5 deficit in the 10th minute to an 8:5 lead just five minutes later. Swiss coach Michael Suter used a time out to stop the rot for his side, but it did not have the desired effect as Lenny Rubin saw his subsequent shot saved and Norway went down the other end to score, going four goals (9:5) ahead.
 
It looked like they would not be caught, but the Swiss, who had said after their Austria victory they had nothing to lose in Egypt as a last-minute replacement nation, came back, coming within one goal right up until the 23rd minute (11:12).
 
But a two-minute suspension for Swiss left wing Marvin Lier and subsequent penalty from Sagosen (13:11) would prove to be decisive as Berge pumped his fist in acknowledgement of his side pulling ahead again, and by the end of the half Norway were up four (17:13).
 
Within the first three minutes of the second period they had pulled ahead to seven (21:14), a distance that was too much to overcome for the Swiss.
 
Both sides are now on two points and go into their final group games knowing if they both avoid defeat, they will be through and Austria will exit the trophy hunt. Switzerland play France and Norway take on Austria.
 
hummel Player of the Match: Sander Sagosen, Norway