The two teams who will battle it out in the 2018 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship final are now known after debutants Greece beat title holders Spain in a shootout and Norway finally overcame rival Brazil in the semi-finals.
2018 IHF Women’s Beach Handball World Championship
Matchday 5: Semi-Finals, 9-16 Placement Round, 5-8 Placement Round
Semi-Final: Brazil vs Norway 0:2 (18:19) (20:22)
“I have been a coach for 15 years and it was the first time we have beaten Brazil,” said an emotional and physically drained Norway coach Eskil Berg Andreassen after he saw his team take a 2:0 victory over the 2017 World Games champions Brazil in the first women’s semi-final today.
Handball is a game which can be won and lost in seconds and when Norway’s Marielle Martinsen found herself in space after receiving a pass from Katinka Haltvik in the final seconds of the first set, she made no mistake smashing home the single point to take a 19:18 win and put her side 1:0 in the game.
“I was so nervous, I don’t know what to say,” said Martinsen to IHF.info after the match. “I was so happy when it went into the goal. At the break we thought about that [winning 2:0], we just calmed down and had fun and thought we could have this [victory].”
The second period started with Katarina Ugland putting her side 2:0 up and Norway never looked back, as they led and had the impetus for the rest of the period.
Her side finished a very successful day at the office today with a guaranteed medal, a first victory over Brazil and a place in the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games in San Diego, USA next year, thanks to being one of the top five teams at Kazan 2018.
“It’s the best feeling ever and it sounds amazing,” said Norway’s Maren Aardahl about their productive day. “We are preparing for the future as well now, but I’m a little bit out of myself now, I don’t know what I am saying – I am super happy.”
Semi-Final: Spain vs Greece 1:2 (18:14) (16:18) [2:6 SO]
The final game of the day saw a Saturday night clash between title holders Spain and debutants Greece and it went all the way down to a shootout which Greece won to knock out the title holders in dramatic fashion.
Full review and quotes to come.
Semi-Finals
Brazil vs Norway 0:2 (18:19) (20:22)
Spain vs Greece 1:2 (18:14) (16:18) [2:6 SO]
5-8 Placement Round
Denmark vs Russia 2:0 (18:12) (19:10)
Paraguay vs Poland 0:2 (12:13) (16:19)
9-16 Placement Round
USA vs Thailand 2:0 (14:12) (19:18)
Vietnam vs France 2:1 (20:30) (21:17) [7:6]
Mexico vs Uruguay 0:2 (14:17) (6:7)
Chinese Taipei vs Australia 2:0 (20:14) (21:18)