Northmacedonia takes it all

Today in Rimi Olympic Center in Riga, all awards and individual awards were presented, thus concluding the EHF M 18 European Championship

If the game for 3rd place was similar only in the first half and ended with a convincing victory of the Luxembourg national team, then the final was worthy of a final – intense, emotional and interesting – with the victory of the North Macedonian national team at the very end of the game.

Bronze medal game

Luxembourg – Latvia           33:24 (14:14)

  • The Latvian national team started the game with the goal scored by Andis Bors, revealing the result of this game. Also the second goal in account of Latvia, making it 2:1 in favor of the Latvian national team. After playing ten minutes -5:4 in favor of the Latvian national team.
  • The goalkeeper of the Latvian national team played excellent, but it did not allow Latvia to gain a greater advantage. Oskars Bisenieks earned a red card in the middle of the first half.
  • The continuation of the half-time was played in an emotional and tense atmosphere, with the Luxembourg national team having a sufficient lead almost all the time. Six minutes until the end of the first half, Latvia managed to equalize the score difference – 12:12. The result of the first half – 14:14.
  • The second half started with a great game by Nika Lagzda in the goal and an accurate shot – also performed by Lagzda. Luke Kaysen had a great game in the Luxembourg team, who scored 12 of the team’s 17 goals after playing 35 minutes.
  • After playing 12 minutes – 20:18, the best 12 minutes until the end of the game are already 25:20 in favor of the Luxembourg national team.
  • Until the end of the game, the Luxembourg national team continues its convincing game, achieving the biggest advantage in the game – 32:23, three minutes before the end of the game. The final score of the game – 33:24.
  • Rūdolfs Elferts scored five goals in the Latvian national team. 18 goals for the Luxembourg national team to Luke Kaysen.
  • Andis Bors was recognized as the best player in the Latvian national team, as well as Luke Kaysen in team Luxembourg.

Finale

Northmacedonia – Swizterland                                24:22 (13:10)

  • In the EHF M18 final game, it took more than two minutes for the first goal to be scored, when North Macedonia’s top scorer, Aleksandar Petkovski, scored a 7-meter free throw. In the continuation of the game, the goalkeepers of both teams regularly saved their teams from losing goals, preventing the opponents from making a breakthrough. In the middle of the first half – 5:5.
  • After that, North Macedonia managed to make a small breakthrough, five minutes before the break, reaching 10:7. In the continuation, Switzerland managed to equalize the score difference, however, until the break, North Macedonia had again accumulated a three-goal advantage – 13:10.
  • In the first six minutes of the second half, Switzerland managed to equalize the difference again – 14:14. Neither team was able to score in the following five minutes. After 17 minutes – 17:17.
  • Emotions on and off the court ran high, providing true feelings of the final to those who were present. Eight minutes before the end of the game, the Swiss team managed to achieve plus two for the first time – 22:20, making the North Macedonians nervous, and take a time-out. It helped, and with four and a half minutes to go, it was tied again – 22:22. Three minutes before the end of the game, North Macedonia is in the lead again – 23:22. In a very nervous and exciting ending, the victory for the North Macedonian national team – 24:22.
  • The best player in the North Macedonia national team – David Brestovac and Gino Steenaerts in team Switzerland.

The winners of the tournament not only celebrate a trophy, but promotion to the M20 EHF EURO 2024 as well as a place at the M19 World Championship 2023. 

All Star team

  • Best goalkeeper – David Brestovac (Northmacedonia)
  • Best left wing – Mihael Totikj (Northmacedonia)
  • Best left back – Valentin Wolfisberg (Switzerland)
  • Best center back – Vincent Kreiselmaeir (Luxembourg)
  • Best pivot – Jevgeņijs Rogonovs (Latvia)
  • Best right back – Arda EyüpYildiz (Türkiye)
  • Best right wing – Aleksandar Petkovski (Northmacedonia)

Top scorer – Luke Kaysen (Luksembourg)

Best defence player – Mischa Romer (Switzerland)

MVP – Tomislav Dimkovski (Northmacedonia)