On Thursday evening, it was ready for the opening match in the Gjensidige Cup, where Norway was to face Croatia. The last time the two teams met was in Euro 2020, when Croatia won in the semi-finals after extra time. In Jordal Amfi, Sondre Gjerdalen made his debut for the national team against Croatia on Thursday and William Aar was back in the Norwegian uniform after a few years out of the squad.
Alexander Blonz opened the match with the first goal, but the Croatians came up with two quick goals and took the lead in the first minutes. The two teams played evenly at the start of the half and alternated the lead. Just before half-time, Blonz countered to equalise, which was also his 200th goal for Norway, and just minutes later Norway took the lead and increased the score to 10-8.
The Norwegian boys kept the two-goal lead until the end of the half, and there was jubilation in Jordal Amfi when Simen Lyse increased the lead to 14-11 with less than five minutes left in the half. The three-goal lead stood until the last minute, when Croatia reduced it by one. The handball boys were ahead 16-14 at the break.
From the break, Norway came back in front with three goals, but did not give up there. From the penalty mark, Blonz increased the Norwegian lead to 19-15, before Kristian Bjørnsen increased the lead with a shot in the open goal. The Croatians switched to playing seven against six, but even that could not stop the Norwegian boys. Just before half-time, Petter Øverby sent the ball from a defensive position into the Croatian goal, before Blonz countered again and increased the lead to 25-18.
Kristian Bjørnsen scored his 700th goal for Norway in the match against Croatia.
Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
The handball boys maintained their seven-goal lead throughout the second half and Thorbjørn Bergerud continued to pick the Croatians’ shots on goal. Into the last minutes of the match, Norway was ahead 29-22, but Croatia came up with two reductions. The last ball was Norwegian and Bjørnsen scored his 700th goal for Norway and secured victory 32-26 against Croatia.
Alexander Blonz had this to say about the match to TV 2:
– The way we play bodes well. It’s always fun to be a match player in matches like this, there will be a lot of shots and it was fun, he says.
Norway’s next match in the tournament is against Denmark. It will be played on Saturday 11 May at 16:15, before they face Argentina on Sunday. You can watch the matches on TV 2’s channels and TV 2 play.
COMBAT FACT
Mutual Cup
Norway – Croatia 32-26 (16-14)
Jordal Amphitheatre, Oslo
Norway’s top scorer: Alexander Blonz – 11 goals
Top scorer Croatia: Luka Lovre Klarica – 5 goals
Expulsions: Norway 1x2min., Croatia 2x2min.
See full match report here
Read more about the Gjensidige Cup here