Spain earn dramatic draw against Sweden

19 Mar. 2021

Spain earn dramatic draw against Sweden

Down by four with 11 minutes to go, it looked like game over for Spain, in the first game of what will be a crucial year for “Las Guerreras”. But for the third time in a row, Spain and Sweden drew, 28:28, as left wing Jennifer Bermejo scored the tying goal with one second to go in the maiden game of the Tokyo Handball Qualification 2020 – Tournament 1 in Llíria.

The Spanish side can still proceed to the Olympic Games from the tournament they are hosting, with a win against Argentina on Sunday, while Sweden also face the South American side on Saturday.

TOURNAMENT 1
Spain vs Sweden 28:28 (13:13)

Since the last two competitive games between the two sides ended in stalemates, it was little surprise to see that the deadlock was not broken after the first 30 minutes, 13:13.

But it was a tough ask for Spain to make a comeback, after a slow start, that saw Sweden take an early lead, dazzling through their speed and creativity from the back line.

Despite playing only two minutes and 19 seconds in the first half, Swedish left back Johanna Westberg scored five goals for Sweden, including converting four penalties, as a 3:0 unanswered run between the 10th and 13th minute lifted the Scandinavian side to a compelling 8:4 lead.

The gap gravitated between four and five goals, as Spain missed chance after chance, turned the ball over five times, as Carlos Viver’s side looked unprepared to face the Swedish challenge.

Yet “Las Guerreras” did not win that nickname – “The Warriors” – easily. No, they got it because they never give up and it was exactly the case in the last five minutes.

Spurred by centre back Nerea Pena, who scored twice and dished five assists, and captain Carmen Martin, who added five goals, Spain finished the first half with their own 3:0 unanswered run to prevent Sweden scoring in the last four minutes and 30 seconds to tie the game at the break, 13:13.

But Sweden started the second half roaring, scoring eight times in the first ten minutes to open another crucial gap, 21:16, as Spain decided to replace Silvia Navarro, who saved just three shots, with Darly Zoqbi de Paula.

It was both the defence and the attack which hampered Spain’s efforts for another comeback. But Sweden took no prisoners, taking advantage of each and every mistake made by the hosts. With a flurry of fast breaks, but also with some rockets from the back line, the Scandinavian side looked unstoppable, as the Spanish defence suffered an unexpected collapse.

But fighters will be fighters. Down by two goals with 40 seconds to go, Spain deployed a man-to-man defence, that clearly hampered Sweden’s attack. Winning by three one minute earlier, Sweden were in disarray.

The defence went back to their usual aggression, coach Carlos Viver called a crucial time-out and the play was on. The ball went to the left wing, with Jennifer Bermejo coolly beating Johanna Bundsen with a well-placed shot to tie the game, 28:28, with one second to go.

It was the third draw in three games between Sweden and Spain, as both teams can qualify provided they win against Argentina in the next two days.

Photo: RFEBM / J. L. Recio