Spain began the ‘Main Round’ of the Women’s Handball World Cup with a serious setback against Serbia (29-31), in a duel that seemed controlled for a good part of the match and that escaped in a dramatic finale, with a partial score of 1-8 that punished the lack of offensive clarity of Ambros Martín’s team.
The Warriors, who had reached this second phase as first in the group after a great victory against Montenegro, missed two key points for the objective of reaching the quarterfinals, from which they are moving away by succumbing to another Balkan team in an unprecedented duel in a World Cup event.
The script of the match had a Spanish accent from the beginning: high pace, fluid circulation and an attack that was sustained by the inspiration of Danila So Delgado, chosen ‘Player of the match’ with 11 goals, impeccable from seven meters (5/5). Spain settled on the scoreboard very quickly and dominated the first half with gains of up to three goals thanks to external success, activity at the back and a stretch of good emotional control despite the Serbian push.
At half-time, the score was 19-17 and the start of the second half confirmed that feeling. Two consecutive interventions by goalkeeper Nicole Morales and the voracity of Danila So promoted a 3-0 run that raised the lead to five goals (22-17).
With the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund (Germany) leaning towards the Spanish side, Serbia called a timeout and tried to stop the avalanche, but Spain still stretched the maximum to six goals with 23-17 and 23-18 that continued its best stretch of the championship.
However, from minute 41 onwards, the duel changed completely. Serbia found the first line of resistance in Vukaljovic, Krpez-Slezak and Skrobic and began to run after each Spanish loss, which multiplied at the worst moments: five serious errors in the first minutes of the second act. The Balkan team punished every concession and Spain got stuck in an offensive block that lasted seven minutes without scoring.
The final reaction was not enough either. Danila So kept the Warriors alive from the penalty kick, but Serbia, despite a double disadvantage in the decisive moments, struck with Velickovic and sentenced with Vukaljovic (29-31). Risovic appeared on goal to close the comeback and Spain, rushed in its last attack, let a duel escape that it seemed to have under control.
After reaching this ‘Main Round’ as first in the group by beating Montenegro on the last day of the preliminary round, the Guerreras could not defeat their neighbors, a Serbian team coached by the Spanish José Ignacio Prades, former Spanish coach and former assistant coach of Ambros Martín, who took revenge for the recent Posten Cup friendly won by the Spanish.
After this Tuesday’s duel, the ‘Guerreras’ will face Iceland on Thursday, which proposes a very high pace and a direct style very much in line with Nordic handball and similar to that of the Faroe Islands. Finally, on Saturday they will face a major challenge against Germany, group favorite. Spain has options but access to the quarterfinals of this World Cup is complicated.
TECHNICAL SHEET.
–RESULT: SPAIN, 29 – SERBIA, 31 (19-17, at halftime).
–TEAMS.
SPAIN: Prades (P), Morales (P); Gutiérrez (2), Etxeberria (2), Somaza (1), Arcos (4), So Delgado (11), Fernández (1), Erauskin (1), Álvarez (2), Lyndie Tchaptchet (1), Lysa Tchaptchet, Arroyo, Bengoetxea (2), Gassama (1) and Vegué (1).
SERBIA: Risovic (P), Petkovic (P); Krpez-Slezak (5), Lazic, Tabak, Abgaba, Janjusevic (2), Mitrovic, Kocic (2), Jovovic (7), Skrobic (5), Velickovic (1), Radevic, Cvijic (4), Garovic y Vukajlovic (5).
-PARTIALS EVERY FIVE MINUTES: 3-3, 6-6, 9-9, 13-11, 16-13, 19-17 –rest–; 22-17, 23-17, 25-20, 27-23, 28-28 and 29-31.
–REFEREES: Kristof Altmar and Marton Horvath (HUN). Two minutes were excluded for Arcos, Gutiérrez in Spain and Skrobic (2), Jovovic, Agbaba and Velickovic in Serbia. Jovovic was sent off with a red card.
–PAVILLION: Westfalenhalle.