15.06.2014, 07:51
Romania make it to the EHF EURO 2014 in style

SUNDAY REVIEW 2: Comprehensive 32:20 win over Belarus secures the ticket to the final tournament. Denmark finish qualification campiagn with six wins from six matches after 35:27 against Lithuania

Romania make it to the EHF EURO 2014 in style

Romania are the 14th confirmed participants, including the two hosts Hungary and Croatia, for the Women’s EHF EURO 2014 after a clashing 32:20 win against Belarus.

In other Sunday qualifiers the 30:28 victory against Slovakia came to late for Iceland, while Denmark finished their qualification campaign with a clear record of six wins from six matches.

Group 1: Denmark vs. Lithuania 35:27 (21:12)

It was a perfect finish for Denmark: As the first of all teams in the qualification, the World Championship 2013 bronze medallists took their sixth win in their sixth qualification match.

Lithuania turned out to be anything but a high hurdle for head coach Jan Pytlick's team to clear: Nearly all Danish players eventually found their name on the scorer list in an overall one-sided duel.

Already when the distance stood at nine goals at the break (21:12), the deal had been sealed for the hosts. The biggest intermediate margin was 13 goals.

Best scorers were Laima Bernataviciute with ten strikes for Lithuania and Line Jörgensen with seven goals for the victors.

Group 2: Iceland vs. Slovakia 30:28 (16:12)

This match was supposed to be the final for second rank in this group, but after Slovakia had booked their EHF EURO ticket already with a draw against France on Wednesday, the result had no impact on the final group ranking anymore.

However, Iceland fought for honour and took a prestigious win, but eventually finished one point behind Slovakia, who missed some injured players in Reykjavik.

The hosts started in full speed and led 8:2, before Slovakia reduced the gap to four goals (12:8), a margin that stood until half-time (16:12).

In the second half Slovakia – led by ten-time scorer Simona Szarkova - were close to turn the match at 21:21 in their favour, but Iceland stroke back and returned on the winners' path.

Group 2: France vs. Finland 36:13 (14:5)

It was more a match with test character, as all decisions in this group had been made before: France were confirmed as group winners ahead of Slovakia.

France had recovered quickly from the surprising draw at Slovakia and were clearly ahead from the game's opening stage onwards.

The fact they only allowed Finland five goals in the first half, proved the strength of the team's defence, and after the break the French attack had no problems in outclassing their opponents on numerous occasions.

Over the entire 60 minutes French coach Alain Portes made use of a huge rotation, granting all his players on-court-time.

Group 6: Romania vs. Belarus 32:20 (15:6)

After the hotly contested 30:28 away win in Belarus, Romania were clearly dominant in the second leg on home court and booked the EHF EURO ticket as the twelfth team that comes from the qualification.

The berth at Hungary and Croatia was virtually secured already at the break, when Romania – thanks to their counter-attacks – were ahead by nine goals at 15:6.

But it took until the 40th minute, when Adriana Nechita (top scorer with eight goals) netted to give Romania their first double-figured lead at 22:12.

After two defeats against Norway at the start of the EHF EURO qualification, Romania with the win boosted their ambitions for a successful final tournament.

Best Belarusian scorer was Hana Stsiapanava by five goals.

TEXT: Björn Pazen / ts