Saturday, 23. January 2010
Graz: Norway makes it to the main round
The last game on venue Graz was Norway versus Ukraine. Both teams started with very ingressive defense into the match. Still the Norwegian pivot Bjarte Myrhol could get the ball and score. On the Ukrainian side the defense could be combated with distance throws but also in one to one duels. So the score in 22. minute was 11:11. Despite a time punishment for Natalyuk at the end of the first half the Ukraine could get into distance a little - halftime sore: 14:16.
Norway started the second half much more aggressive in the defense. But already at the beginning the Norwegian player Stian Vatne got hurt on his leg and could not play any longer. After a short catch up of the Norwegians Ukraine could come to the fore again with 19:21 in the 40. minute. But in the 43. minute could get in the lead again - supported by their noisy fans. A thrilling exchange of blows followed, in spite of a time punishment the norwegians could not be shaken of. Tie in the 52. minute: 26:26. Over and over again the norwegians could score by their pivot, Ukraine scored by their back court players. But in the last minutes the Ukrainian defense turned out too unmoveable, Norway won 31:29. Best thrower wer Bjornsen, Burka and Onufriyenko (each 7).
HEDIN Robert: I am satisfied with the game, although we did not play a good match. However we will play in the main rounds in Vienna and we will play better games there.
TVEDTEN Havard: First of all I want to congratulate the Ukrainian team for a good championship and I wish them good luck for the future. I think it was a strange game for us today. We entered the match with a bad attitude; however we gained our spirit back during the game and in the end we won with a small margin. I am satisfied with the match. Our team is looking forward to the next round and we will see what is going to happen there.
Leonid Zakharov: “I’m not very satisfied with the match, unfortunately we lost and are not qualified for the main round.”
Sergeii Burka: It is very bad that our team must go home and not to the main round. Our team was fighting but we always lot our games in the end. For our young team it was the first competition with such a high level. It was a big experience to play this three games.
