In a nail-biting encounter at South Paris Arena 6, Egypt’s handball team clinched a dramatic 26-25 victory over Norway, propelling them to third place in Group B and securing a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics. This win comes after a 35-23 triumph against Hungary in the first round, a narrow 30-27 loss to Denmark, and a 26-26 draw with France.
The match began with Norway taking an early 2-0 lead. However, Egypt quickly responded, and by the 10th minute, the score was tied at 3-3.
The game continued as a closely contested battle, with Norway’s Harald Reinkind scoring six of his seven goals in the first half. A streak of consecutive goals saw Norway taking a 12-9 lead with five minutes to go before the break. Yet, Egypt showcased their resilience, and a crucial 5-1 run led by Ahmed Hesham allowed them to establish a slender 14-13 lead at halftime.
The second half mirrored the intensity of the first. Norway regained the lead four and a half minutes after the restart, making it 16-15. However, the game took a dramatic turn when Norway’s Magnus Gullerud received a direct red card for a foul on Mohab Abdelhak, who had to leave the court on a stretcher.
Egypt capitalized on this advantage, with goalkeeper Mohamed Aly making pivotal saves that kept them in the game. Despite a seven-minute scoring drought, Egypt managed to fight back. By the 42nd minute, they were back in the lead at 19-17.
The closing minutes were filled with tension as both teams fought for supremacy. Seif Elderaa’s goal put Egypt ahead 26-24 with just under a minute to play. Norway responded, reducing the deficit to one. In a frantic finale, Egypt lost the ball, giving Norway a chance to equalize. However, Aly’s seventh save of the day ensured Egypt’s victory.
With this win, Egypt now has five points in Group B, following their earlier results in the tournament. Norway, despite the loss, had already secured their place in the knockout phase but will now need to beat Denmark on Sunday to finish top of the group. Egypt, on the other hand, will face Argentina on Sunday, with the potential to finish second in the group if Denmark overcomes Norway.
With their quarterfinal ticket secured, the Pharaohs aim to maintain their momentum and strive for Olympic glory.
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