Russia proved unstoppable against Denmark, claiming the 2016 IHF Women’s Youth (U18) World Championship title with an exceptional performance that ended with an eight-goal win. 

AEGON Arena, Sunday 31 July

Russia were first on the board adding two goals before Denmark scored their first, but once the Scandinavian team began to find the net it was a level game. Russia just held the edge at 6:5 in the 10th, before Denmark began to prove effective against the 5-1 defence and the Scandinavian team took the lead at 7:6. Left wing Emma Cecelie Urhskov Friis added a penalty that created a two-goal lead for Denmark, and even with Kristina Jorgensen out on a two-minute suspension they managed to keep the distance at two. 

Midway through the half Denmark held a 9:7 advantage as goalkeeper Laerke Sofie Sorensen made a great save to keep the score where it was, and when Ida Marie Moesgaard Dahl took Denmark in front by three at 10:7 it seemed they were beginning to take control.  

But Russia came storming back with the MVP of the tournament, Karina Sabirova, equalising at 10:10 in the 21st minute. They stopped Denmark’s next attack with offensive defence that caused the Scandinavian team significant trouble, but then missed their next opportunity at the other end of the court. Still Russia had made up the crucial distance and from there they were well in the game as Antonina Skorobogatchenko broke through to put the score at 11:11 in the 22nd. 

Sabirova created a narrow edge at 12:11 a minute later, and after a time-out for Denmark, Russia employed a much more active defensive system. Denmark earned a penalty but Friis hit the post, and as the half-time break neared Russia increased their lead to two. 

In the second half it was again Sabirova who broke through to increase Russia’s advantage, taking the score to 17:14 in the 33rd. Russia kept Denmark out of the goal for five more minutes while they added the same number to their tally and created a 19:14 score thanks to a fast break from right wing Mariia Dudina, which prompted Denmark coach Heine Mogensen Eriksen to use his second time-out in the 38th – but it did little to help. 

After the pause Russia continued their rampage, and when Skorobogatchenko scored to give Russia an eight-goal advantage at 24:16 in the 47th it seemed the match was all but over. Skorobogatchenko hit the post on a fast break in the 52nd minute when the score stood at 26:19, and though her team were comfortably in front the outcome was not decided yet and Russia had a tense few minutes of working hard in defence to retain their lead.  

After no goals for some time Denmark closed the gap to six with just over five minutes left on the clock and began to mark Sabirova out of Russia’s attack, but Skorobogatchenko made it clear Sabirova was not the only threat when she sent a rocket of a ground shot into the goal from outside nine to earn Russia back their seven-goal lead. With that shot the title was decided, and Denmark could not close the gap while Russia cruised home to the final whistle to win their second Women’s Youth World Championship title after they first raised the trophy in 2008. 

Best players of the match: Helena Elver HAGESOE (DEN), Karina SABIROVA (RUS)