Sagosen-inspired Norway seal crucial win against Portugal to improve chances for Paris 2024

A dramatic comeback attempt for Portugal fell short, as two heavyweights faced off with a huge prize on the cards in Tatabanya. It was Norway which drastically improved their chances for a Paris 2024 Olympic Games ticket in the Olympic Qualification Tournament #3, as they secured a 32:29 win against Portugal.

Olympic Qualification Tournament #3
Norway vs Portugal 32:29 (18:13)

With such a well-balanced line-up in the Olympic Qualification Tournament #3, with three European sides, plus Tunisia vying for two spots at Paris 2024, every minute and every goal counted, as it was clearly on display in the opening match in Tatabanya, between Norway and Portugal.

Two teams which knew each other well, especially as Portugal enjoyed a 37:32 win against Norway just in January, at the EHF EURO 2024, were facing off once again with no room for mistake and it looked like Portugal were once again in the driver’s seat after the first minutes of the match.

However, Norway had their share of mistakes back in January and tried to erase them, with key contributors rising up to the occasion and turning the tide. As the Scandinavian side took the lead after eight minutes, they never relinquished it, as a strong defence and an excellent performance from goalkeeper Torbjorn Bergerud (nine saves and a 43% saving efficiency) helped them control the match.

A 3:0 run spurred by two converted penalties from left wing Alexandre Blonz helped Norway open a four-goal lead, 11:7, after 16 minutes, with Portugal left reeling, as nothing seemed to work in their usual free-flowing attack. With brothers Francisco and Martim Costa combining for four goals from nine shots, Portugal needed to improve everything to challenge Norway.

But as Sander Sagosen shined on the court, scoring five goals in the first half, Portugal were lucky to be only five goals down at the break, 13:18, as Norway were virtually unstoppable and delivered one of their best halves of handball in recent memory, to take a firm grip on the match.

Everything looked done and dusted, despite Portugal slowing down Sagosen with their defence, as Norway found another player, left back Simen Ulstad Lyse, who took over the scoring, with the gap still hovering around the five, six-goal mark with 15 minutes to go, 26:20.

But Portugal know from their previous endeavours in the Olympic Qualification Tournament that nothing is over until the final whistle is blown. Therefore, Paulo Pereira’s side continued to work harder and harder, as line player Luis Frade was pretty much flawless in attack, scoring eight goals, with the Costa brothers also combining for 10 goals, as the gap went slimmer and slimmer, until Norway saw themselves backed into a corner, with a 27:25 lead with 10 minutes to go.

Jonas Wille threw everything to the attack, even deploying a seven-on-six attack, only for Portugal to reply through Frade scoring empty-goal shots to maintain the gap. Yet it was Norway which kept their cool until the end and drastically improved their chances of progression, with a 32:29 win, courtesy of a goal scored by Christian O’Sullivan in the last second of the match.

Norway will seal their place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a win against Hungary on Saturday, while Portugal are now due to play for their future against Tunisia, as Paulo Pereira’s side must now come back from a dramatic loss.

hummel Player of the Match: Sander Sagosen (Norway)