Helsinge, DENMARK, December 7 (official 2002 European Women's Handball Championship website) - Yugoslavia is still unbeaten in Group A in Helsinge and is now ready for the next
round. Austria could not compete against a
good Yugoslavian defence which led to a
lot of fast break goals and a victory for the
Yugoslavian team with a score of 30-23.
Austria's most well known player, Ausra
Fridrikas, had difficulties reaching her normal
standard at the beginning of the game,
the Austrian coach Ole Eliasen chose not to
let her play for the rest of the first half.
After the even score 4-4 in the seventh minute Yugoslavia's Sanja Jovovic scored
three goals in a row leading to 7-4 for Yugoslavia and Austria never managed to
get back. At half time the score was 15-9.
The game was finally decided after
approx. 15 minutes of the second half
when Yugoslavia went from 23-18 to
27-18. The greatest lead for the
Yugoslavian team was 10 goals, 29-19.
Most of these goals were scored in fast
breaks.
For Yugoslavia the goalkeeper Dragica Djuric was very good with great
saves and some excellent passes to the fast running Snezana Damjanac
who scored six goals for her team. Tatjana Medved is also hard to stop
and scored five goals in the Yugoslavian offense.
After the match Yugoslavian coach, Marko Isakovic, commented, "We are
happy with the victory over Austria but I am not satisfied with the way we
played offensively."
In the second half Ausra Fridrikas played more than in the first and scored
a total of seven goals. Also Stephanie Ofenbock scored six goals.
Ole Eliasen said, "We lost against a better team with a great goalkeeper. In
addition to that their defense was too good for us today."
Austria are still without any points after two games in Group A. The game
against Sweden on Sunday will decide which of the teams is going to play
in the next round.
