Men’s handball: Israel – Romania 27-30 in the play-off for EC 2018 qualifiers

The men’s national handball team defeated Israel 30-27 (13-15) on Wednesday evening at Tel Aviv in the first leg of the play-off for qualification in the second phase of the 2018 European Championship qualifiers.

Romania has had a catastrophic start of the match with only two goals in the first 11 minutes.

Israel led 6-2 (11), and 11-4 (19^th minute), the biggest difference for the hosts. Our team gradually returned to the game and reduced the gap to three goals 12-9 (22^nd minute). Israel scored two goals, 14-9 (25^th minute), but at halftime the score was 15-13.

Romania managed to equalise in the 37th minute, 16-16, and a minute later Romania led for the first time 17-18. In the 56^th minute the Romanian national team was leading by four goals 24-28. Romania won 30-27.

The return game will be played on Sunday at Calarasi, as of 18.00h.

While Romania’s women’s national team won bronze at the World Championship in December and qualified for the Olympic Games, the men’s team has not qualified for a major tournament since the World Championship 2011.

Appointing Aihan Omer as head coach – Omer had been at the helm of Romania’s men’s national team already in the past – in October 2014 was intended to turn things around, however major success is still eluding the team.