Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-08-23 18:52:08

Norway players celebrate winning the gold medal (Photo credit: Lars Baron/Getty Images)

(BEIJING, August 23) — Norway’s Women’s team won their National Olympic Committee’s first Handball gold medal by convincingly beating Russia 34-27 at National Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

The win avenged Norway’s loss against Russia in the final of the 2007 world championships.

Norway took a dominant 13-3 lead early in the first half and never trailed. Five of their goals came from right back Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth, four in fast breaks.

The Norwegians made 12 fast breaks in just the first half, scoring on 10 of them.

Russia’s coach Evgeny Trefilov made changes to stop the fast breaks and allow Russia to build their strong defense, which slowed the pace and let Russia assemble a stronger attack.

Right back Irina Bliznova led her team with five goals in the first half, so Russia had narrowed the gap at half time – but still trailed 18-13.

They never got closer, even though Elena Polenova, Liudmila Postnova and Ekaterina Andryushina shot well and pressured goalkeeper Katrine Lunde Haraldsen.

Left wing Elena Dmitrieva (RUS) also broke through to score three times.

An eye injury forced key player Tonje Larsen (NOR) to leave the field after 16 minutes of the second half and she spent the rest of the game on the bench.

But Russia’s defense slipped and they let Riegelhuth and Else Marthe Soerlie Lybekk continue to produce fast breaks, so Norway pushed ahead again and took another 10-goal lead four minutes before full time.

Norway rested first-choice goalkeeper Haraldsen and used Kari Aalvik Grimsboe for the final minutes – and they began to celebrate early, allowing Russia to score four last-minute goals.

That narrowed the gap, but the result was never in doubt.