Polish handball players defeated Kosovo 34:27 (17:17) in Pristina in the European Championship qualifying match. Both teams will finish their competition in group 8 with a match on Sunday in Zielona Góra. The finals at the end of the year will be held in Hungary, Austria and Switzerland.
Kosovo – Poland 27:34 (17:17).
Kosowo: Aurora Kryeziu, Venera Kafexholli – Elisa Mulaj 3, Melisa Mulaj, Mireta Gjikokaj 6, Luljeta Sopjani, Yllka Shatri, Arlinda Hajdari, Albina Rugovaj 1, Leonora Demaj 12, Marigona Hajdari 1, Arlinda Dinarca 2, Suzana Ujkic, Dafina Mustafa 2 , Elisa Mirdita, Angjelina Krasniqi.
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Poland: Adrianna Płaczek, Barbara Zima 1 – Aleksandra Olek, Emilia Galińska 2, Monika Kobylińska 9, Magda Balsam 6, Sylwia Matuszczyk 1, Adrianna Górna 3, Aleksandra Tomczyk, Magda Więckowska, Marlena Urbańska, Natalia Nosek, Daria Michalak 1, Karolina Kochaniak -Room 5, Paulina Uścinowicz 4, Dagmara Nocuń 2.
Penalty minutes: Kosovo – 2, Poland – 8 minutes. Referees: Ante Mikelic and Petar Paridna (Croatia). Viewers: 1,250.
The competition in group 8 was won by Denmark, which scored all the points. The stake of Poland’s matches with Kosovo is to advance from second place.
Polish handball players were supported by the Polish military contingent stationed in Kosovo. Paulina Uścinowicz opened the scoring with a strong long-range shot. After six minutes, the opponents were leading 5:1. This was due to defensive errors that Adrianna Płaczek was unable to correct between the posts. She was replaced quite quickly by Barbara Zima. She also didn’t help the team much. By the break, the Polish goalkeepers had stopped only three shots.
As expected, Leonora Demaj, the most effective player in the home team, caused the most problems. Mirela Gjikokaj quickly began to imitate her. Together, they scored thirteen goals in 30 minutes.
Polish women slowly started to make up for the losses. The matter was not made easier by a 2-minute penalty for Karolina Kochaniak-Sala. A large number of turnovers in the attack of Arne Senstad’s team also influenced the result. The Norwegian coach asked for a time-out at the beginning of the second quarter. He temporarily ordered a 5-1 defense. Emilia Galińska took advantage of the chance for a draw (15:15) after a cross-play by the entire team.
The first half did not resemble the meetings between the white and red team against the Balkan team from the last World Cup qualifications. At that time, the Polish women in Bielsko-Biała were leading 17:6, and in Pristina 17:12.
After the change of ends, team captain Monika Kobylińska restored the lead to Senstad’s team. Only for a moment, because Demaj quickly remembered herself. After Magda Balsam’s goal from the wing, the white and red team gained a two-goal advantage for the first time in the match. Further mistakes in the attack and very nervous play did not allow the team to increase the lead. Kobylińska was the only one who impressed with her effectiveness.
The poor standard of the match was added by the Croatian referees, many of whose decisions raised serious doubts among observers. Płaczek showed off the action in the final minutes of the match, successfully intervening twice after quickly following opponents’ throws in the same action. The tired Kosovars were not as effective at the end of the match, which allowed the Poles to win for the third time in history direct clashes.
On Sunday (6 p.m.) in Zielona Góra, both teams will meet again. (PAP)
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