Russia were confirmed as the second finalist of the women’s handball competition at the Games of the XXXI Olympiad after they defeated Olympic, world and European champions Norway in a thrilling semi-final decided in extra time. Norway therefore lose the opportunity to claim their third consecutive title, after they won both the 2008 and 2012 Games. 

The final, to be played between France and Russia on Saturday 20 August, will be the first final at a major international competition without Norway since the 2013 IHF Women’s World Championship. 

Future Arena, Thursday 18 August
Semi-final: Norway vs Russia 37:38 (31:31)(16:18)

As expected this match was an exceptional contest from the first whistle, with two goals in the first 40 seconds – one from Olga Akopian in Russia’s opening attack before Nora Mork (14 goals) scored a penalty for Norway. It took some time for Russia to become comfortable against Norway’s 6-0 defence, and during that period the Scandinavian side moved ahead to an early lead with a penalty from Mork followed by a fast break by Amanda Kurtovic (3:1, fourth minute). 

Kurtovic made an impressive play when she intercepted a pass in the 10th and ran a fast break – but her attempt on goal was stopped by Tatiana Erokhina, and as Russia played a fast counter attack in response they closed the gap to 5:7. 

After Russia line player Anna Sen scored her first goal in the 13th (7:8), Norway recorded a 3:0 run started with a fast break scored by Camilla Herrem off a pass from goalkeeper Kari Aalvik Grimsbo, and finished with Heidi Loke’s second goal. The effort earned Norway an advantage of 11:8 in the 17th, before more saves from Erokhina and goals from Vladlena Bobrovnikova, Dmitrieva, Polina Kuznetsova and Mayya Petrova kept the Scandinavian side quiet for three minutes while Russia claimed control at 12:11. 

In the 20th Russia retained the lead as Bobrovnikova took the score to 13:12 after Marit Malm Frafjord received a two-minute suspension. Russia capitalised on her absence with Dmitrieva tallying her fifth and putting the score at 14:12, and they kept the same edge as the whistle for the half-time break sounded. 

The match resumed at a furious pace as Norway fought to decrease the distance, and they did so after Katrine Lunde saved a penalty against Victoria Zhilinskayte and Veronica Kristiansen scored from seven metres at the other end (22:22 in the 40th). Two precision shots into the top left corner from Anna Vyakhireva and Dmitrieva returned the two-goal distance in favour of Russia at 24:22 in the 43rd, before Norway came back with Mork tallying her 10th goal to level the score at 24:24 as the last quarter of the match began. 

Again Russia reclaimed the two-goal difference, with goals from Irina Bliznova and Marina Sudakova helped by an impressive breakthrough save by Viktoriia Kalinina. After Kuznetsova took Russia in front to 27:24 in the 49th Norway coach Thorir Hergeirsson requested his second time-out, but his team still found great difficulty against Russia’s defence until Kristiansen put the score at 25:27 just inside the last 10 minutes. When Dmitrieva was sent off for two minutes Norway scored two goals in a row to equalise at 27:27. 

The final minutes were marked by Russia claiming a narrow advantage while Norway consistently levelled. Kalinina in particular made the task very difficult for Norway’s shooters as she recorded a 47% save rate for the 23 minutes she had stood in Russia’s goal, before Kurtovic finally found a way past her with a goal from right wing equalising at 28:28 with three minutes left. 

The score remained locked as the full-time whistle approached, before both Ekaterina Ilina and Loke scored inside the last 30 seconds to keep the match equal as the buzzer sounded, sending the game into extra time. 

At the end of the first period of extra time Russia were in front by one at 34:33, and though Norway equalised as soon as the second period began, their opponents created the crucial distance off a penalty scored by Ilina with 31 seconds remaining. Norway had the chance to level again, with a big-angle shot from Herrem, but she shot wide of the goal and Russia only had to hold the ball until the clock ran out. 

“We supported each other and played until the end,” was Akopian’s simple explanation of the key to their victory.