Norway secured their place in the 22nd IHF Women’s Handball World Championship Final after a thrilling 70-minute contest against Romania that came down to the wire. 

Jyske Bank BOXEN, Herning
Norway vs Romania 35:33 (27:27)(17:14)

It was an incredible atmosphere when Norway and Romania walked on to the court in Herning, with big crowds of Norwegian and Romanian fans fuelling their teams through a fast-paced first half that was more equal than the score board showed at the break. 

Romania’s strong, tall defenders were troublesome for Norway’s smaller, fast attackers, and the Scandinavian side were forced to play long, patient attacks as they hunted for gaps. Heidi Løke was a superb asset in that department, not only scoring five goals but leading Romania’s players to give away several penalty shots that were the key for Norway. 

Early in the fifth minute Paula Ungureanu made her first spectacular save off a Stine Oftedal break-through, before Norway found their way past her to pull ahead to a 4:2 lead in the seventh. Romania’s Cristina Neagu showed her famous arm was well warmed up with a bullet to the top right corner, and line player Oana Manea equalised for the first time at 4:4 just after the clock showed eight minutes. 

In the 15th minute the sides were level at 9:9, but after that point Norway began to move ahead. Two goals from Mørk and a fast break from Camilla Herrem put Norway in front 14:10 in the 21st minute, but Romania came back with right wing Adriana Nechita closing the gap to three at 15:12 with seven minutes left in the half. Ungureanu saved a big-angle right wing shot from Amanda Kurtovic to keep the gap at 16:13 in the 26th, and she made yet another on a Mørk penalty after the buzzer to keep Norway from getting out of touch ahead of the break. 

Norway started the second half with Silje Margareta Solberg in goal, but Romania returned stronger with two goals – from Neagu then Gabriela Perianu – when Mari Kristine Molid was out on a two-minute suspension. At the 35-minute mark the score board showed a one-goal contest at 18:17. 

In the 40th minute Norway had increased the gap to 20:17, but Ungureanu saved a Mørk ground shot that enabled Nechita to decrease the difference to 20:18 at the other end. Again Ungureanu stood in Norway’s way, and Neagu ran through a big gap to close the score line to 20:19 in the 42nd. Norway lost the ball in their next attack and Romania earned a penalty that Buceschi converted to equalise at 20:20 in the 44th. 

Molid was sent off for her second suspension and Norway coach Thorir Hergeirsson employed the additional attacker as a goalkeeper tactic. It was not so successful however, as they lost the ball and Valentina Ardean Elisei scored a long-range goal to give Romania the advantage at 21:20. It was Neagu who took Romania two in front at 23:21, but the gap was temporary as Oftedal responded seconds later in the 50th. 

As the clock ticked into the last 10 minutes Norway equalised with a goal from Stine Skogrand putting the score at 23:23, and from there it was a one-for-one race. With three minutes on the clock the score was level at 27:27, and it stayed there until the final whistle as neither team could find the goal again. 

In extra time it was Oftedal who struck first, only just slipping the ball past Ungureanu. Løke took the score to 29:27 next, and Nechita responded, closing the gap to 28:29. But Ardean Elisei received a two-minute suspension and Ida Alstad scored the resulting penalty to put Norway in front 30:28. As the teams swapped sides for the second five minutes of extra time the score showed 31:29, and when Norway were the next to score with Skogrand breaking through it was a dangerous situation for Romania.

Though Romania kept within range they could not equalise again, and Camilla Herrem scored the game-winning goal in the dying seconds of the game. 

Romania coach Tomas Ryde said the key to their stronger performance in the second half was their improved footwork in defence and the stronger performance of Ungureanu, analysing the match in the post-match press conference with Hergeirsson nodding his head in agreement:

“The Norwegian defence was not so strong, and the Romanian defence was not so strong. In the end it was about Heide Løke – we were not strong enough to stop her.”

“This was the first time our young players stood in this kind of game, that goes into extra time, and I think they did very well,” said Hergeirsson. “We are very happy to be in the Final. It was not a given before the competition. We look forward to Sunday and to meeting the Netherlands in a 50/50 game.”

Best Player of the Match presented by adidas: Heide LØKE (NOR) Line Player