Down by two goals after 23 minutes, Czechia rode an excellent defensive effort to throw off the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship with a win, 23:17, against Algeria

GROUP E
Czechia vs Algeria 23:17 (12:11)

Finishing fifth at the 2023 CAHB African Women's Junior Handball Championship meant that Algeria hardly made it to the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, as the last African team to qualify, but for the first 30 minutes, they really looked like giving a hard run for their money to Czechia.

The European side looked more experienced on paper and had a good outing last time at the world handball flagship competition at this age category, but were unable to be ruthless in attack and had many shortcomings in defence, as they first led the match, but faltered in the second part of the first half.

A very disciplined and well-rounded effort from Algeria, which saw left backs Maya Fettani and Soulef Atmani and line player Lyna Yelles each score three goals, lifted the African side to a surprising 11:9 lead after 23 minutes, with Czechia looking nowhere near of the level required to cause issues in this match.

But the European side bounced back with a strong ending of the first half, running a 3:0 partial, which saw Algeria fail to score in the last six minutes and 47 seconds of the first part, to turn the match on its head. At the break, Czechia were leading by a single goal, 12:11, but looked to have all the momentum.

That 3:0 run spilled into the second half, morphing into a 5:0 one, which saw Czechia open a three-goal lead, 14:11, for the first time in the match, with Yelles finally putting a stop to it, after eight minutes and 50 seconds without a goal scored for Algeria.

With an improved effort in defence, Czechia looked more comfortable on the ball too, but it was Algeria’s lack of efficiency in attack which really did the damage, as the African side could only muster one goal in 19 minutes and 12 seconds.

By that time, Czechia were up by four goals, 16:12, and despite Algeria trying with all their might to counter the damage done by their misses and turnovers, it was too little, too late. The African side cut the gap to only two goals, 16:14, but did not manage to execute the final moments of the match, where Czechia were stronger.

Goalkeeper Kristýna Stojarová was immense between the posts for Czechia, finishing the match with seven saves for a 46% saving efficiency, as the European side ran away with a 23:17 win, limiting Algeria to only six goals scored in the second half.

In the second round, Czechia are due to face the People’s Republic of China on Friday, while Algeria meet Sweden, in a do-or-die clash for the African side, which really had an impressive outing in their opener.

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Anna Kubálková (Czechia)