Romania won their second game in a row at the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship, 38:17, against Kazakhstan, securing safe passage to the main round.

The Asian side must now win their last game of the group in Castelló, against the Islamic Republic of Iran, to follow the Romanian side to the next phase of the competition.

GROUP C
Romania vs Kazakhstan 38:17 (14:9)

Two years ago, at Japan 2019, Romania stumbled against Kazakhstan, yet were still able to sneak out a 22:20 win that helped them progress to the main round.

A win against Kazakhstan was also a must on Sunday evening in Castelló were Romania to continue in the next phase of the tournament and this time Adrian Vasile’s side delivered a better performance, as the difference between the two sides was clearly on display.

It was still far from a vintage performance from this makeshift Romania side, who is missing three key players in Cristina Neagu, Eliza Buceschi and Denisa Dedu, but the superior experience played exactly in their hands.

After posting an otherworldly 77% saving efficiency against the Islamic Republic of Iran in the first match at Spain 2021, goalkeeper Yuliya Dumanska enjoyed another fine start in the first half of the match against Kazakhstan, saving seven shots for a 44% saving efficiency.

In attack, Romania had their share of mistakes – eight turnovers and a 61% shooting efficiency, missing key one on one shots from wings Nicoleta Dinca and Laura Moisa – but were still able to build a lead.

By the 15th minute, Kazakhstan were still in the game, down one goal, 6:5, but Romania amped up their defence and a flurry of mistakes came from their opponents. Therefore, it was no surprise that Romania jumped to a 14:9 lead at the break, just enough to keep them focused, but sufficiently large for Vasile to hand minutes to all the players in his roster.

A 12:3 start of the second for Romania, who scored the same number of goals between the 31st and 45th minutes as they did in the first half, was the key ingredient missing for a big win for the European sides.

With a flurry of fast breaks, converted by wings Laura Moisa and Nicoleta Dinca, who combined for 11 goals in the game, Kazakhstan were left firmly in their tracks, especially as back Irina Alexandrova, who scored eight of her side’s first 12 goals, started to miss shot after shot.

Eventually, Romania jumped to a clear 38:17 win, their second in a row at Spain 2021, as their young, inexperienced team is starting to gel.

Their last game will be the toughest yet, as the Romania side face the reigning European champions, Norway.

On the other hand, Kazakhstan must secure a win against Iran in their last game to progress in the competition. The two teams have met at the AHF Asian Women’s World Championship in September, when Kazakhstan took a convincing 38:33 win in the bronze-medal game.

hummel Player of the Match: Daciana Hosu, Romania

Photo: RFEBM / Á. Bermejo