Only one quarter-final spot was at stake before the last matches of the main round at the 2024 IHF Women's Junior World Championship, and Portugal took it, as they beat Iceland by just one goal, 26:25, scoring the winner 34 seconds from full-time. 

MAIN ROUND
GROUP IV
Portugal vs Island 26:25 (12:11)

The first half was extremely tight, but it was Portugal who had a slight advantage for the most part. Only three players scored for them before the break – Sofia Ferreira, Constance Sequeira and Carmen Figueiredo – but the Portuguese goalkeeper Matilde Rosa put on a great performance, boasting a 50% saving rate in the opening 30 minutes.

Iceland's goalkeeper Ethel Bjarnasen also had a lot of impact, and her team were fighting hard. Three minutes before the break, they pulled in front for the first time, as Elin Thorkelsdottir made the score 11:10. But Portugal responded with two Sequeira's goals which gave her team a 12:11 advantage at the interval. 

As Bjarnasen continued doing well (she ended the game with 18 saves and a 42% efficiency), Iceland again took the initiative in the second half, and they led by two goals, 20:18, by the 45th minute. One of Portugal's key players, right back, Luciana Rebelo did not convert any of her seven attempts in this game, but her six assists proved crucial, as her side turned things around once again, taking a 24:22 lead just five minutes from the final buzzer.

Iceland, who had already secured a historic quarter-final berth for the first time ever at this level, tied the score 25:25, but it was the Portugal which scored the last goal in this match, as Julia Figueroa's shot last-minute shot after a fast break secured their win.

Portugal finished top of Group IV with five points and will face Denmark in the quarter-finals, and Iceland stayed second with four, as they were already qualified and due to face Hungary in the knockout phase.

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Elin Thorkelsdottir (Iceland)