OJ Paris 2024: Black Pearls Beat Spain
The Angolan women's senior national handball team beat Spain 26-21 in the second round of preliminary group B of the Paris 2024 Olympic tournament, demonstrating their grit and determination.
This historic victory marks Angola's ninth Olympic victory, the sixth over a European team. In addition to this thrilling handball victory, other Angolan athletes have also excelled at Paris 2024, such as André Matias in rowing, while he awaits participation in several other sports such as canoeing, sailing, swimming, and athletics.
Historic Victory in Paris 2024
The Black Pearls, the Angolan women's senior national handball team, won on Sunday against Spain's "Guerreras" by 26-21, at the Arena Paris Sud 6, valid for the second round of preliminary group B, of the Paris Olympic tournament.
This victory at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games marked Angola's first victory in the Paris tournament, adding to its ninth Olympic victory and its sixth over a European team. Angola's Olympic record also includes three draws and two victories against non-European teams.
The National Team's boldness was evident from the opening minutes of the match, resisting until the end. What seemed like a mistake—facing their group opponent in preparation for the matches—actually showed Carlos Viver's Pérolas what was needed to overcome them in a serious competition.
In the warm-up match on the 10th of this month, Spain prevailed with a narrow 22-21 victory over an Angola side that knew its timing was right. Interestingly, it took a while for a Spaniard, Carlos Viver, to untie the knot in the history of official matches between the two teams, following a 24-2004 draw at the XNUMX Athens Olympics and defeats in other competitions.
The Game
In a game marked by balance from the opening moments, with errors and technical failures on both sides, Spain took advantage of some Angolan haste in finishing to reach half-time with a 15-14 lead.
However, the first five minutes of the second half revealed an Angola determined to bring joy to its supporters. It took the lead and, by the 36th minute, was up 17-15.
Although they faced a crisis moment when they stopped scoring for four minutes, allowing the Guerreras to take a 17-18 lead, Carlos Viver's reaction and Natália Bernardo's sending-off didn't shake the team. In the 50th minute, Spain also lost a key player, Gutierrez, to a violent play.
From the seven-meter free kick, Angola made it 21-19 and never looked back from there. The Angolan fans, influenced by former internationals Teresa Ulundo "Chinha" and Palmira Barbosa, made their presence felt, and Spain had the longest scoring drought of the game, lasting eight minutes before scoring again, after Angola had already secured its victory.
Angola's 26-21 victory over Spain in the second round of Group B of the women's handball tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, taking place in France, made the sports news of the week.
With this result, the African champions redeemed themselves from their opening defeat on Wednesday against the Netherlands (formerly Holland), by a narrow 31-34. Angola plays again on Tuesday against Hungary in the third round.
The Other Angolans
Angolan André Matias qualified for the quarter-finals of the rowing event at the 2024 Paris Games, in the repechage of the 2000 meters individual, held in Vaires-sur-Marne, finishing in the top two places in his heat.
Angolan judoka Edimilson Pedro lost his debut match by disqualification against Serdan Rahimov of the Republic of Turkmenistan. The African champion in the -66 kg category was leading his opponent with 30 seconds remaining, with a Wazare (favorable score) and two Shido (faults), but as a result of the series of fouls, he was disqualified on the third penalty.
In addition to handball, rowing and judo, Angola is also present in France with canoeing, sailing, swimming and athletics.
And now?
The team's triumph was sustained by its finishing ability, given that it scored 26 goals in 36 shots compared to Spain's 21 in 46 shots, and by its goalkeeper Marta Alberto, with a defensive efficiency of 37 percent.
Vilma Nenganga, with seven goals, and Juliana Machado, with six from six shots, were the team's top scorers, while Carmen Campos, also with six, stood out for Spain.
With one game still to play in the second round of Group B, between Olympic champions France and the Netherlands, both with two points, Brazil, Angola and Hungary remain tied, also with two points, but from two games, while Spain is last, still without a single point.
The Olympic handball tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games features 12 teams divided into two groups of six, with the top four teams progressing to the quarter-finals (to be played on August 6). The semi-finals are scheduled for August 8, and the final is scheduled for two days later (August 10).
To advance to the quarter-finals, Angola will still have to face Hungary on the 30th of this month, France on the 1st of August and Brazil on the 3rd of August.
Conclusion
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been a stage of excitement and challenges for Angolan athletes. The Black Pearls' impressive victory over Spain demonstrates their determination and talent. With more games to come, they are expected to continue to shine and achieve significant victories, raising the pride and hope of millions of Angolans.
What do you think of this victory for Pérolas Negras at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.
See also:
Picture: © 2024 DR
