The Hungarian national team came back from a serious deficit and turned it around in the World Cup semi-final against the Netherlands. Based on the feats of Klára Zaj, the team got back on its feet and made it to Sunday’s final.

It wasn’t an easy match. The impact of Thursday’s quarter-final, the shock caused by the spoiled second half, was still in the girls’ souls. In addition, the Netherlands played well. In fact, very well…

If I hadn’t seen with my own eyes, the two teams’ World Cup practice match exactly two weeks before the Hungarian-Dutch World Cup semi-final, I would have doubted the authenticity of the reports about the match played in Hódos. At that time, our team won 36-21 in Hódos, and it seemed that there was a class difference between the two teams. However, this time a Dutch team, who had a great day, entered the field in Skopje, and we couldn’t find the catch. The opponent skated and led confidently for a long time.

Then something changed. Our open defense worked, we got closer to the opponent, but Holland was still in the lead. However, at 21-19, Klára Zaj, who had been performing well until then, pulled down the curtain. He saved seven in a row, the team produced a 10-2 run, and with that it was decided: the Hungarian national team is a World Cup finalist!

JUNIOR WC, SEMI-FINAL
NETHERLANDS-HUNGARY 24-28 (15-12)
Skopje, 300 spectators. A: R. Braseth, L.A. Sundet (Norwegians).

HUNGARY: Imre Sz. – T. Vártok 3, Júlia Farkas 1, Kövér 2, Emília Varga 2 (2), Csíkos 2, Anna Szabó 3. Substitution: Zaj K. (goalkeeper), Csernyanszki 2, Lea Faragó 6, Lili Szabó 2, Anikó Kovács 5, Panyi, Horváth F., Török F. Head coach: Zoltán Szilágyi.

Suspensions: 4 and 4 minutes
7 meters: 4/2 and 2/2.