Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 9:42 p.m
Even if they didn’t play well all the way through, they eventually won the opening match of the European Championship qualifying group against Slovakia with confidence. The Hungarians will continue their appearance in the qualification series as guests of the Finns in Vantaa on Sunday from 15:00.
European Qualifiers, Round 1, Group 2:
Hungary-Slovakia 37-32 (15-12)
shots/goals: 52/37 and 50/32
goals from seven meters: 8/7 and 6/3
exhibitions: 10 and 8 minutes, respectively
Hungary: Bartucz – Fazekas 4, Ónodi-Jánoskúti 3, Sipos 1, Ligetvári, Bodó 4, Bóka 5, substitutions: Imre 9, Rosta 7, Hanusz 2, Győri, Ancsin 2, Zs. Krakovszki, Palasics, Szűcs
Among the Olympians, Roland Mikler, Máté Lékai and Zoran Ilic are not part of the squad this time, and Bence Bánhidi, Zoltán Szita, Bence Krakovszki and Benedek Nagy were not named to the match. The team was able to prepare for the match with only three training sessions, and this, as well as the absence of a few regular players, sometimes left a mark on the overall game both in attack and defense.
Based on László Bartucz’s goalkeeping feats, the Hungarians started well (5-1), then came the mistakes, which the Slovaks took advantage of to catch up minus one. When there were saves from Bartucz again, the Hungarians, who were fifth in the previous continental tournament in January, and had a 15-12 advantage at the break, were able to advance again with a 5-1 series.
MOL Tatabánya’s goalkeeper excelled (photo: MKSZ/Anikó Kovács)
At the beginning of the second half, the starting team was back on the pitch for the home team, but Kristóf Palasics was in goal. The picture of the game did not change, the Hungarians did not have an easy time either in attack or defense, they could not develop a reassuring advantage, five goals was the maximum. It seemed that national team captain Chema Rodríguez – not unusual for him – did not want to ask for time this time either, but he was forced to with five minutes before the end, as the Slovaks closed back to 31-29. As a result of the short briefing, the team gained new momentum and confidently won the match with six goals.
Imre Bence took part in the success with nine goals, Miklós Rosta with seven goals, Kristóf Palasics with two, and László Bartucz with 11 saves. On the other side, Martin Potisk and Simon Machac, playing in Gyöngyös, scored six times each, Teodor Paul made six saves, and Marian Zernovic made four saves.
The first and second places in the groups, as well as the four best third places, will secure their place at the European Championship in January 2026. The three host countries, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, as well as the defending champion France, are already certain participants in the tournament.
Additional result:
Montenegro-Finland 29-28 (16-15)
Source: molcsapat.hu
