Strong second half showing makes history for Faroes with first-ever World Championship win 

A three-goal half-time deficit and 18% save rate did not put off world championship debutants the Faroe Islands as they fought tooth and nail in an exhilarating second period to grab their first-ever win in the senior global event in either gender, against 2019 silver medallists Spain.

Group D
Spain vs Faroe Islands 25:27 (14:11)

With eight world championship debutants in their squad, Spain could also lay claim to being tournament newcomers at the SWT Arena in Trier and with both sides not performing at their highest level in their openers – Spain defeating Paraguay and the Faroes losing to Montenegro – this game was set to produce an interesting clash.

And so it proved as the Faroes found themselves ahead at 4:3 (9th minute), making the most of Spanish missed chances. However, a ruthless five-minute spell from Ambros Martin’s team turned the tide and caused the Faroes to take a time out at 7:4 behind.

The stats told it all – no saves from goalkeeper Rakul Wardum and an attack efficiency of just 36%. But Claus Leth Mogensen and Simon Olsen started to utilise their 7v6 attack, despite conceding some easy goals in the process.

Eventually they were back in it at 9:8 down (24th minute) through the impressive Jana Mittun and could have brought it equal but turned the ball over under passive play and Spain said thanks and went 10:8 ahead (27th minute).

In the final minute of the half Faroe Islands goalkeeper Rakul Wardum, who played the whole match except for a few seconds, mistakenly threw a long pass for a fast-break opportunity and instead of bringing her side within one (13:12), in a flash, Spain were ahead by three (14:11) on the half-time buzzer.

The shotstopper went straight down the tunnel but the next time she would do that she would be a hero as her side showed a fighting spirit which they had threatened to unleash ahead of the event.

In an example of how to give confidence to a player, the Faroes stuck with Wardum in the goal and she repaid them 10 times over.

A blistering start to the second period saw them draw equal (16:16) in the 36th minute through captain Pernille Brandenborg’s seven-metre causing Spain coach Ambros Martin to call an earlier-than-expected time out.

Attacking the Spanish goal, with all the Faroese travelling support behind it, the second period was exhilarating – both teams going clear at points. The game entered the final quarter even (20:20), but Spain pushed on and threatened to go ahead by three approaching the final five minutes.

But with Wardum in goal and an effective 7v6 deployed the Faroes sensed history. Mittun again put her Faroes side ahead (26:25, 58th minute) and this would prove to be the gap they needed as Wardum held her own and despite Maria Nolsoy unable to find the power for her shot under passive play in the last 60 seconds to put her side ahead by two, Gassama saw her shot saved by Wardum (her 15th overall) and Mittun, with a strong sense of expectation in the air, sunk home in front of her fans to seal the deal with six seconds left.

hummel Player of the Match: Pernille Brandenborg (Faroe Islands)