It was a win, but not an inspiring one for the Asian champions Republic of Korea as they saw off North America and the Caribbean champions Greenland by 11 goals in Stavanger.

Group C
Republic of Korea vs Greenland 27:16 (15:6)

In their second match of their second-ever IHF Women’s World Championship, Greenland impressed in defeat against Korea – the second time the two teams had met in the championship history.

On 5 December 2021 in Bressanone, Italy, Korea defeated Greenland 27:12 and again the Asian side triumphed but failed to impress as they collected their first two points of the 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship.

By the 10th minute, Korea, coached by Henrik Signell, led 6:1, but just four minutes later it was just 7:4 and the Swedish coach took a time out to make some adjustments and, maybe, remind his players of what was at stake, declaring in the pause; “high speed. Go, go, go”.

Greenland coach Anders Friis persisted with the tiring and defensively-porous 7v6 attacking tactic, but his side started leaking empty goals and soon after going 11:5 down, moved to the standard six in attack, later changing his goalkeeper from Rina Moller Lorentzen to Aviaaja Heilmann.

Heilmann was involved moments later in a significant moment in the match as with a Korea penalty on the half-time buzzer and her side 15:6 down, Korea’s influential Gyor right back Ryu Eun Hee was adjudged to have hit the Greenland goalkeeper in the face to receive a direct red card – her second disqualification in her two games so far – she would miss the entire second half.

Heilmann would go on to make six saves in the match, at one point sitting on a 57% effectiveness, but it was an un-Korean-like performance she faced, lacking pace and with little inventiveness on show.

Signell will hope his side show what they are capable of when they face Norway on Sunday, while Greenland prepare to face Austria knowing that they have a small chance of qualification through to the main round too.

hummel Player of the Match: Josefine Jakobsgaard Gadgaard (Greenland)