JERUSALEM, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Hungary on Wednesday achieved a dramatic 33-32 away win over Israel in the second phase of the 2023 IHF World Men's Handball Championship qualifiers.
With the tie's second leg to be played in the Hungarian city of Tatabanya on Saturday, the aggregate winners will secure a place in the final tournament to be held in January 2023 in Poland and Sweden.
In front of 1,200 fans in the Drive In Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel opened strongly and went up 3-0, before Hungary took a first lead in the tenth minute, thanks to goals by Zsolt Balogh.
Yossi Appo scored to help Israel lead 14-12 in the 22nd minute before the first half ended 18-17 for the home team.
Goals by Appo and Yirmi Sidi, alongside saves by goalkeeper Dan Tepper helped Israel lead 22-19 in the 37th minute.
Rodriguez Vaquero brought Hungary back to business and Richard Bodo made it 33-30 with 2:53 on the clock.
Israel cut to 33-32, but missed a draw with four seconds to go after the visiting goalkeeper Roland Mikler saved a shot by Daniel Mosindi.
Rodriguez scored a team-high seven goals for Hungary. Egon Hanusz added six more.
Adir Cohen scored game-high nine goals for Israel, while Appo finished with seven. ■
