Korea, Montenegro, Uruguay and Portugal were the winners of the first session of the placement round of the IV Women’s Youth World Championship in Montenegro on Friday. As the host needed a penalty shoot-out to finish eleventh, Korea rank ninth as second best non-European team and Portugal and Uruguay took their each first victories at this competition.

 

Placement matches:

9/10: Netherlands – Korea 32:33 (19:20)

Asia confirmed their dominance in the women’s younger age categories by this tight and close victory of their continental champions. Korea finished ninth as second best non-European team below Asian runners-up Japan, who will fight for the 5-8 positions from Saturday on. The Dutch team ranks tenth, as eighth best European team, exactly at the 2011 Under-17 European championships. Like the match Montenegro vs. Brazil before, this second intercontinental encounter was full of tension, goals and speed. Both teams had their clear advantages in attack, not in defence. Except a four goal gap for Korea right after the break, the match was fully on eye level with the Asians in lead most of the time. In the end Su Yeong Kim was the difference in this match, scoring 12 goals and finishing the tournament by 52 strikes on her account, even as she hit the net for the last time 16 minutes before the end for the 28:25. When the final eight minutes started with a three goal margin in favour of Korea, the match seemed to be decided, but Netherlands did not resists, but in contrast, equalized at 32:32, hoping at least for a penalty shoot-out. Finally Jung Eun Kim secured the victory by the 33:32. Best Dutch scorers were Michielsen and Dulfer with eight goals each.

11/12: Montenegro – Brazil 29:28 (11:21, 26:26) after penalty shoot-out

The spectators in Podgorica saw an incredible, thrilling and nail-biting match, which ended with a happy end for the host.  Montenegro managed the biggest turn of a match in the whole competition, being below with ten goals at the break. After the 4:2 the Balkan team lost their pace and were overrun by the South Americans, who seemed to have decided the game at the break leading by 21:11. But Montenegro rose like Phoenix in the second half. It only took them 22 minutes to equalise at 23:23 and even to lead by 25:23 thanks to the overall 18 goals of their top scorers Despotovic (11) and Klikovac (7). But when the deal seemed to be sealed, Brazil showed they are still alive. Isabelle Santos finished the Brazilian triple strike with the 26:25 and the South Americans were close to celebrate but Klikovac equalised again two seconds before the final buzzer. The penalty-shoot-out had to decide – and goalkeeper Katarina Perovic became the Montenegro hero, saving three Brazilian penalties, while her counterpart Aline Massaro “only” saved two, and Despotovic made her team dance on the field with her decisive last shot.

17/18: DR Congo vs. Uruguay 26:32 (13:16)

Like at the 2010 Women’s Youth World Championship, DR Congo finished on position 18, while the Uruguay players did not only celebrate their first win at this championship, but also the 17^th rank at their international debut. They started their party already on the court, as if they had taken the silver or gold medal. And they knew, whom to thank for this victory: Their top scorer Alejandra Scarrone added another 12 goals on her tally, finishing the tournament with 53 strikes in six matches. The South Americans were constantly in lead, while the African team was out of power in their sixth match in eight days. Seven goals of Scarrone confirmed the three goals margin at the break, before Paraguay easily extended the margin to decisive 29:20 12 minutes before the end. Ngatse and Betu Mvita were best DR Congo shooters with five goals each.

19/20: Paraguay vs. Portugal 16:26 (6:12)

Thanks to their first victory at their debut at a Youth World Championship Portugal finished on rank 19 in Montenegro, while Paraguay end the tournament without a point. The Europeans built the base for their win in the last 15 minutes of the first half, when they extended the gap to six goals, followed by a series of 10:2 goals after the 13:16 to finally decide the game. Top scorer for the victors was Monica Soares with seven goals, Carimy and Aruna scored five goals each for Paraguay.