Handball team keeps quarterfinal hopes alive with draw

Ryu Eun-hee celebrates after scoring against Angola. [YONHAP]

The Korean women's handball team managed to keep its quarterfinal hopes alive at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by drawing with Angola at Yoyogi National Stadium, western Tokyo, on Monday morning.

It was a match that went down to the wire. Angola kept a slim lead for most of the game, but Korea refused to let up: The two teams never strayed apart by more than two points throughout the entirety of the second half.

With just a minute to go and the ball in Angola's hands, the scoreline stood at 31-30 in Angola's favor.

Goalkeeper Ju Hui was not having the greatest of games, but pulled through in the clutch by saving Angola's seemingly final attempt at goal to give Korea one last chance to tie the match — and 30 seconds later, Kang Eun-hye managed to do exactly that with only 11 seconds left on the clock.

It felt as if the game were over, but Angola were quick on the break and created a one-on-one chance for center back Isabel Guialo that would definitely be the last shot of the game. Once again, Ju made the save, securing the draw for Korea.

Angola's chances of advancing to the next round of the event were eliminated with the draw.

Whether Korea makes it to the quarterfinals will now be decided by the result of the match between Japan and Norway, to be played on Monday at 9:30 p.m. Korea will be able to advance as the fourth-place team of group A if Japan either loses or draws.

BY JEON YOUNG-JAE [jeon.youngjae@joongang.co.kr]