The Swedish handball ladies fell against Denmark – and it was a loss that really stung.
Denmark turned around at the end and won 25–23, which means that Sweden no longer has a grip on first place in the Olympic group.
It feels like we are becoming cowards, says team captain Jamina Roberts.
After the opening Olympic victories against Norway and Germany, the meeting with Denmark became a swinging thriller.
Entertaining for the loud crowd in Paris, but also excruciatingly nervous towards the end.
And in the end, Sweden stood as losers after not scoring a single goal in the last nine minutes of the match.
Denmark does well at the end and shows great morale, it’s a shame that it’s not us, says Jamina Roberts.
We hardly get to shoot the last nine minutes, it feels like.
The Bunds played big
The Danes had won four straight championship meetings between the teams – most recently the European Championship bronze match last year – and started clearly the best now as well. The Swedish attacking game was precarious at the beginning and it did not take long before Denmark had grabbed a 6–1 lead.
Goalkeeper Johanna Bundsen – brilliant in the first two Olympic matches – could not be charged for that. And when Sweden started to pick up the deficit, it was her continued big play that was one of the keys. A couple of quick counter goals where Bundsen found Nathalie Hagman helped the Swedes catch up and even go past – 12-10 at the most – before Denmark came back to make it 14-14 at half-time.
In the second half, Bundsen and Hagman continued to celebrate triumphs at one stage when Sweden looked to be regaining a slight grip on the match. Shortly after Hagman’s 23–21, Nina Koppang had the chance to fix a three-goal lead on a penalty, but missed.
I don’t go for it one hundred percent and hesitate a little, I think. I don’t know, I’m disappointed in myself, says the right-handed junior who only scored one goal on six shots in the match.
Three straight goals
Shortly after the penalty miss, the post stopped Jenny Carlson and instead came three straight red and white goals that gave Denmark the lead, 24–23, before the final minutes.
Bundsen saved with a minute left and gave Sweden a chance to equalise. Then Tyra Axnér hit the post again – and there the chance for a Swedish point disappeared. Denmark was able to shoot 25-23 in the very last second and Norway has now taken over the position as group winner.
Sweden still has South Korea and Slovenia to face in Paris, on paper the two weakest teams. Victories in those matches are enough for at least second place in the group.