The Romanian national team defeated the Czech team with a score of 31-30 (15-11), on Wednesday, in Baia Mare, in the first leg of the play-off for the 2025 World Men’s Handball Championship.
The tricolors, in the first official match with George Buricea as the selector, prevailed by a single goal, after leading at one point by seven goals.
After a more difficult start, in which the Czechs led 5-3, Romania took control and had a four-goal lead at halftime, 15-11.
Romania reached a seven-goal advantage in the second half, 22-15 (min. 38) and 23-16 (41), but the guests came back in the last quarter of an hour and even equalized, 30-30, with Demis Grigoraş scoring the winning goal.
For Romania, Demis Grigoraş scored 9 goals, Călin Dedu 5, Andrei Buzle 5, Daniel Stanciuc 3, Ionuţ Nistor Ioniţă 3, Alexandru George Andrei 3, Dan Racotea 1, Andrei Drăgan 1, Călin Căbut 1.
Dan Vasile defended 6 shots (17.14%).
The visitors’ goals were scored by Tomas Piroch 9, Matej Klima 6, Jakub Sterba 6, Vit Reichl 3, Stepan Zeman 2, Jakub Hrstka 1, Jonas Patzel 1, Tomas Babak 1, Dominik Solak 1.
Tomas Mrkva had 2 interventions (8.33%), and Jan Hrdlicka one (10%).
The match was refereed by the Spaniards Andreu Marin and Ignacio Garcia, and the EHF delegate was the Hungarian Peter Eles.
The second leg will take place in Brno, on May 12.
Romania participated 14 times in the World Championship, but the last time was in 2011 (19th place). Next year’s World Championship will take place between January 14 and February 2, in Croatia, Denmark and Norway.
Tags: Romania defeats Czech Republic playoff World Mens Handball Championship
