If there is a surprise team then it must definitely be Angola. The Africans beat two European powers, Romania and Montenegro against all the odds in the first two rounds and so caught the attention of the handball world. While Norway lost the first match against Brazil, they showed an improving performance against Spain and won two very important points. Angola’s task in the third round was far from easy against the defending champions.
Norway started the match the way they let Angola know: they don’t give them a chance to surprise once again. After a few minutes played, Norway was already up 5-1 against the Africans. Katrine Lunde was in a great form in the goal, taking all the Angolan confidence away just in a few minutes. A great goalkeeper performance gave Norway the chance for the fastbreaks and the difference between the two sides grew to 8-1. The match was basically decided after 15 minutes played. Nora Mörk was on fire once again, she netted seven times in the first half. The Angolan goalkeepers were far from their level in the first two matches so the Africans couldn’t break the momentum of the Europeans. Norway won the first half 16-8.
Angola couldn’t do a miracle.
The second half was not any different. Norway’s lead was enough to give a rest to some key players while Katrine Lunde proved once again that her time in the national team is not over yet. When the Angolan Wuta Dombaxi made a foul on Amanda Kurtovic during a fast break at the six meter line, the referees didn’t hesitate to give her a red card. The Norwegians were giving less power in the second half – the match was already decided a long time ago -, still they reached the two-digit difference. Angola didn’t have a single piece of chance to even play a close match with the fast and confident Norway, the defending champions won 30-20. Still the Africans are in a comfortable position with their four points.
Rio 2016 – Women’s Handball Tournament – Group A, 3rd round
Norway – Angola 30-20 (16-8)
Norway: N. Mörk 8(2), E. H. Arntzen 4(1), A. Kurtovic 4, V. Kristiansen 3, H. Löke 3, Sa. Solberg 3, S. Oftedal 2, C. Herrem 2, I. Alstad 1(1)
Angola: I. Guialo 8(4), N. Bernardo 4, A. Carlos 3, J. Santos 2, L. Venancio 1, M. Cazanga 1, A. Kassoma 1
Penalties: 4/5 – 4/6
Suspensions: 6 minutes – 8 minutes (DR to W. Dombaxi)
Standing after three rounds:
1. Brazil 4 points (+11)
2. Norway 4 points (+10)
3. Spain 4 points (+8)
4. Angola 4 points (-4)
5. Romania 2 points
6. Montenegro 0 points
The first four teams advance to the quarterfinals.
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