Two points to Serbia, Netherlands and Germany

Sunday’s big day of Women’s EHF EURO 2016 Qualification action ended with away victories for Serbia, the Netherlands and Germany, who all now sit on four points on the group table.

Italy, Austria and Iceland meanwhile, are left behind on zero points.

Group 2:
Italy vs Serbia 19:32 (10:15)

The young home team made it clear from the first whistle they were not going to make things easy for the 2013 World Championship silver-medallists.

Serbia held a slight edge through the first half, always scoring first to disrupt the level score or holding a narrow lead, while Italy resolutely kept pace.

In the 20^th minute Anika Niederwieser (eight goals) equalised at 9:9, but that was the end of the one-for-one game.

Two goals from Jelena Zivkovic (eight goals at 100%) followed by one from Katarina Krpez created a three-goal advantage for the visitors at 9:12, and by half-time they had increased the score line to five.

When Serbia were in front by eight at 24:16 in the 45th minute, it was clear where the two points would find their home.

Group 3:
Austria vs Netherlands 25:31 (11:13)

It was the three-goal advantage created just before the 20-minute mark that was the decider in this match.

The score progressed one-for-one until Nycke Groot put in a two-goal gap with a penalty goal in the 18th minute. Minutes later Sanne Van Olphen added another to take the score to 9:6, and the Netherlands found themselves in a more comfortable position.

The visitors held on to keep a two-goal difference at half-time, and came out firing in the second period. Five unanswered goals – including three from Lois Abbingh within three minutes – increased the Netherland’s advantage to 18:11 before Austria added their first of the half.

Austria slowly closed the gap and with 15 minutes left, the Netherlands lead had decreased to three (21:18).

But it proved a momentary lapse – the Dutch refused to let their hosts any closer, using all the strength in their roster to push ahead to a six-goal lead at the final whistle.

Group 7:
Iceland vs Germany 17:22 (11:12)

It was a messy opening to the game in Reykjavik, with both teams taking time to settle in. Germany found their rhythm faster, creating a lead of 7:2 just after the 10-minute mark.

Iceland soon sorted out their attack and simultaneously kept Germany from scoring for seven minutes, enabling the home side to decrease the score line. Karen Knutsdottir levelled at 7:7 for the first time with a penalty goal in the 17th minute.

From there it was one-for-one until half-time, but the second period belonged the Germany.

A 3:5 run saw the visitors increase their lead to 17:14 by the 45th minute, despite low shooting efficiency from both teams.

That gap proved the decider – Germany held on to finish with a five-goal advantage and the top scorer of the game in Susann Müller, who tallied seven.