Spain vs Belarus 34:36 (18:19)

Spain goalkeeper Ignacio Biosca Garcia made two fast break saves in the opening five minutes, but still Belarus found the back of the net and after five minutes of play, the score was 4:4

Belarus started with their favoured 5-1 defensive system, but Spain’s agile backs found their way effectively through it with the help of line player Ignacio Plaza Jimenez. Midway through the half Spain held a narrow lead (10:9). 

A two-minute suspension to Belarus’ Uladzislau Kulesh in the 20th minute (12:12) helped Spain keep ahead by one (14:13, 21st minute) before attacking leader Hleb Harbuz came on to the court for the first time in the match and Belarus took the advantage (15:16, 25th minute).

Two-minute suspensions for Anton Barouski and Artsem Karalek meant Belarus were down to four players as the half neared its end, but Belarus held on to retain their one-goal lead at the break. 

When the match resumed Belarus forged ahead, deciding the outcome of the game in the opening minutes of the second period. A fast break goal from left wing Andrei Yurynok put them five goals in front in the 38th minute (21:26).

Kulesh received his third two-minutes, and therefore a red card, soon after and Belarus were briefly outnumbered again. With 15 minutes left they were still in front (26:29). Spain closed the score line to two with just a minute left, before Vadim Gayduchenko received a red card after three suspensions inside the last 60 seconds and Spain came within one goal (34:35). 

Coach Aleh Shareika called a time-out when Belarus had possession within the last 30 seconds, and Harbuz breaking through to score the final goal of the game. 

Belarus now prepare to face Sweden or Romania in the 5/6 Placement Match, while Spain will play the losing team for seventh position. 

Sweden vs Romania 36:24 (18:15)

Sweden booked themselves a match against Belarus tomorrow to decide 5/6 place at Brazil 2015 thanks to at 36:24 win against Romania, who nearly came back into the game in the last quarter as the Scandinavian’s focus dropped.

With the loss, Romania will now line-up against Spain tomorrow in the morning 7/8 Placement Match.

After their disappointing last-second loss to Egypt on Wednesday night, Staffan Olsson’s men were keen to Brazil 2015 on a high, and they now have the opportunity to finish in the top five.

The 5/8 Placement Match round can be hard for players to keep their focus after they have just lost the opportunity of making the final four teams and motivation is a key factor in the standard of competition on offer.

Certainly for the last quarter of the match that was the case for Sweden, but for large parts of the game they were a well-drilled and organised side, who quickly got the better of their opponents, opening up a two-goal lead at 5:3 after 12 minutes which they never surrendered.

Coach Ovidiu Mihai Mihaila, who replaced goalkeeper Iancu Ionut with 19-year-old HCM Constanta goalkeeper Bucataru Alexandru overnight, took his first time out just after the Swedes had gone 4:2 up in the eighth minute, but it had little effect as they further extended their lead to 11:6 thanks to some superb saves from Niklas Kraft in the Swedish goal - he ended on a 51% save rate.

A series of two-minute suspensions and turnovers from his side though prevent Sweden from pulling away and they went into the break at 19:14 up.

Two early strikes set the tone for Sweden early on in the second half as they upped their performance and went on a 7:0 run in seven minutes which featured four goals from Niklas Mork, the highlight of which was his strike after receiving the ball low to the ground on the edge of the area - as his body fell to the ground he managed to pull the ball behind his back and sink it into the net.

Sweden found themselves 11 up at 27:16 and their focus began to wane. With such a difference and still 20 minutes to play Romania needed hope, but when lazy play from pivot Andrei Voinea saw him throw the ball straight out the side after a Swedish attack broke down you sensed it was not to be the case.

Constantin Manescu took it upon himself to get his side back in the game with three late strikes, but the Swedes did enough, particularly with Pontus Zetterman, weighing in four strikes of his own.