The Icelandic national team in men’s handball is leading Group 6 by one point, followed by Slovenia, after a 37-30 victory in an away game against Romania in the EHF EURO 2014 Qualifying Phase 2 yesterday.

Archive photo by Geir Ólafsson.

“It’s exactly what we wanted,” commented Iceland’s coach Aron Kristjánsson to Fréttablaðið. “It was a difficult location, a long journey and I’m extremely satisfied with us having achieved such a secure victory.”

Romania was in the lead throughout almost the entire first half. “We started the game poorly, were behind by three goals and not prepared in the defense,” Aron stated.

“After we tightened the defense and coordinated better with each other we gradually worked ourselves into the game. We earned a one-goal lead before the end of the first half and I thought we played the second half rather well,” Aron added.

He praised goalkeeper Aron Rafn Eðvarðsson’s efforts—yesterday’s game was his debut with the national team—as well as the performance of Ásgeir Örn Hallgrímsson, Kári Kristjánsson and captain Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson, who scored 11 goals and is the Qualifying Phase’s highest-scoring player.

Click here to read more about Iceland’s last game against Belarus.

ESA