Thorir Hergeirsson’s winning crew started the four-nation tournament at home with a 24-33 loss to the Netherlands. On Saturday, that defeat was followed by a much better day at work.
The decision fell when Henny Reistad scored 28-27 seconds from the end.
The Norwegian team admittedly gave a very varied first half. Denmark stood well defensively and made it difficult for Stine Bredal Oftedal and his team-mates. At one point, Denmark took the lead by five goals, but after a timeout, the Norwegian girls had the better turn.
Towards half-time, the game was drawn, and in the first half Jesper Jensen’s Danish side led only 14-12.
Even games
– We have to be a little tougher defensively. We had a little trouble with their lineman. They get too much input and goals from there. “Even though Katrine has a good finish, we have to help her get even better,” Norway assistant coach Tonje Larsen said in half-time talks with TV 2.
Early in the second half, Norway’s recovery continued. At 15-15, Henny Reistad and his teammates were up to date with Denmark. The teams then followed each other like shadows into the final minutes of the game.
With a minute remaining, Denmark had the ball, but missed. Then Henny Reistad scored the winner after Thorir Hergeirsson made a very late timeout.
The excitement after the decisive goal speaks volumes about how much progress has meant for the Norwegian side.
Henny Reistad is Norway’s top scorer with nine perfect strokes. Vilde Mortensen Ingstad was also very influential.
The injured Nora Mørk was rested and did not enter the pitch for Saturday’s game.
EC starts on Friday
Norway opens the EC against Croatia on Friday next week. Thorir Hergeirsson’s crew are title defenders after gold in 2020. Switzerland and Hungary are also in the group.
The top three from the preliminary round are ready for the main round, where they will meet the top three Sweden, Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia.
From the main round, the best two advanced to the semifinals.
On Sunday, Norway ended the four-nation tournament in Stavanger against Brazil.
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