The opening day of the 2018/19 IHF Men’s Trophy Intercontinental Phase threw-off in Pristina, Kosovo today, with two games each in the U19 youth competition and U21 junior competition.

Two venues were used, with the 1st of October hall hosting the U19 matches and Palace of Youth and Sports hosting the U21 games.

The youth competition saw big wins for both Canada and Chinese Taipei, against New Zealand and Paraguay respectively.

At half-time, Ludovic Roucoulet’s Canadian side had restricted their Oceania opponents to just four strikes and with a lead of 16 goals (20:4), the match was already over as a contest but that did not stop a spirited game.

The side from North America had raced to an early 3:0 lead (4th minute), before Miguel Aizpuru, who plays his club handball for Vikings Handball Club, got the Kiwis off the mark soon after. However, the next six minutes were a disaster for New Zealand as Canada went clear by eight goals in the 10th minute (9:1).

Tim Rayner will be working hard with his New Zealand team as they prepare to face the hosts tomorrow, while Roucoulet will enjoy a rest day with his Canadian squad who could also thank goalkeepers Blaise MW Holloway and Elliot Leroy with a combined save rate of 66% (19 saves from 29 shots).

The Canadians ended with 10 different scorers, led by Mamadu Guennady Barri on nine while three different players hit the net for New Zealand, led by Paul Ireland (four goals).

The final game of the opening day of Kosovo 2019 featured South America against Asia with Chinese Taipei breezing to victory against Paraguay by 16 goals.

The first half saw all 12 of the Chinese Taipei out court players score, with just goalkeepers Tsai Chih Chang and Chieng En Chiu unable to get on the scoresheet as the Asian team spread around the goals against their opponents who could only manage 16 shots in the opening half hour.

Gabriel Osmar Figueroa Salinas tried his best to keep the Taipei side at bay in the Paraguay goal, making 13 first-half saves, but it was not to be as his side were already 4:1 down after just three minutes. With the score at 11:6 just over a quarter into the match-up it was proving to be an uphill struggle for the South Americans early on.

Worse was to come though as by the 23rd minute Taipei were 11 strikes in front, having gone 17:6 up with a 6:0 run. 

The double figure lead carried into the break and was extended in the second half with Taipei getting to a 16-goal advantage just six minutes into the second period, extending it to 17 goals on a number of occasions as Paraguay made numerous technical errors in attack, although eight goals from Jesus Higinio Zalazar Espinosa was a highlight for Carlos Javier Ramirez Villaneuva’s side.

All games will be streamed live on the IHF website.

Photo: Shpend Ahmeti/Kosovo Handball Federation