In a hard-fought match, Hungary were seriously challenged by Spain but ultimately earned a three-goal win, 27:24, which allowed Vladimir Golovin’s team to progress to the quarter-finals, while their opponents were eliminated.
 
PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES – PRELIMINARY ROUND
GROUP B
Spain vs Hungary 24:27 (12:14)

It was a must-win match for Spain, and the team coached by Ambros Martin looked very determined in the first minutes. While it was Hungary’s Katrin Klujber who opened the score, the Spanish team quickly took the initiative and opened a 6:3 lead in the ninth minute.

However, it did not take long for Hungary to turn the tide. Their defence worked well, Blanka Böde-Bíró made a few saves, and free-flowing attack helped the team to enjoy a 5:0 run and pull cleat at 10:7.

Klujber continued to have her impact in attack, just like teammate Gyori-Lukacs, so Vladimir Golovin’s team gained momentum and continued to push ahead. While the experienced Böde-Bíró did well, her colleagues from Spain did not boast such efficiency before the break. Hungary led 14:10 with nearly six minutes to go, but looked somewhat tired late in the first half, allowing Spain to score twice and cut the deficit to just two goals at the break.

That gap did not look unassailable, but Hungary recharged their batteries at the break and restored a four-goal advantage, this time 17:13. Yet a bit later, when they extended the gap to 19:14, Martin called for a timeout, which seemed to help. Paula Arcos and Alexandrina Cabral led the chase with their goals, and surprisingly quickly Spain not just drew level, but pulled in front at 21:20.

Spain’s goalkeeper Nicole Wiggins played a key role in that comeback, as after a mediocre first half, she ended the match with a 41% saving efficiency. But her colleague Böde-Bíró also continued to rescue her team, and the Hungarians weathered the storm, taking a two-goal lead with seven minutes to go, 24:22.

In the end, Hungary held their nerve and won by three goals, having a 63% shooting efficiency compared to Spain’s 55%. Despite missing exactly the half of her shots, Klujber became the top scorer of her team with six goals. Cabral had exactly the same tally at the other side, yet the Spain suffered their fourth straight loss and now are out of contention for a quarter-final spot. In turn, Hungary will meet Netherlands on Saturday in a match where the second position in Group B will be at stake.