Depleted Slovenia do just enough against Iceland

Despite missing their influential leader Ana Gros, Slovenia overcame Iceland in Stavanger to open their 2023 IHF Women’s World Championship campaign with a win on Thursday.

Group D
Slovenia vs Iceland 30:24 (16:13)

In addition to missing Gros, who is in the squad in Norway, Slovenia coach Dragan Adzic could not rely on other key players such as Elizabeth Omoregie, Tija Gomilar Zickero and Nina Zulic who were ruled out pre-tournament.

But missing players mean opportunities for others and together, they put wildcard side Iceland to the sword in the DNB Arena.

An early, clear lead for Slovenia saw Iceland take their first time out just shy of the 10-minute mark – their attacking threat non-existent having scored just three goals in that period, their second coming with eight minutes on the clock.

Down the other end, the Iceland defence was porous, Slovenia marching through with a variety of strikes, scoring at will.

Eventually, Iceland coach Amar Petursson swapped in goalkeeper Elin Jona Thorsteinsdottir in place of Hafdis Renotudottir and she promptly made the first save of the game – after 15 minutes.

But Iceland are full of grit, preventing Slovenia scoring for 10 minutes (13th-23rd minute) and going on a 9:5 scoring run to move into the half-time break just three down (13:16). After 30 minutes it had not been a game for the purists with an average strike rate of just 50% and numerous turnovers from both sides.

Slowly but surely, Iceland clawed their way back and in the 44th minute they were within touch of a draw (19:20).

However, within five minutes, the gap was four again (24:20, 50th minute) and soon after Katrin Tinna Jensdottir got her third two-minute suspension for interfering with the restart – exactly the same foul as she had made at the end of the first half – Iceland were a player down and Slovenia could relax.

hummel Player of the Match: Perla Ruth Albertsdottir (Iceland)