Portugal 40-28, debut at the 2025 Carpathian Trophy » Test before the Women's Handball World Championship

More mature and more confident than a year ago, when they participated in the European Championship, the players of the Romanian women's national handball team spoke several times this week about the big plans they have for the World Championship.

Total show for Romania in the first half in TeraPlast Arena: 23 goals!

And the last test before the final tournament takes place in Bistrita, where, at the end of this week, the Carpathian Trophy takes place. In the first match of this tournament, Romania received the visit of Portugal, in a TeraPlast Arena that was not even half full, a possible reason being the day and time of the start.

Galeria Bistriței was, however, present on duty and showed its appreciation towards the four Gloria players even before the match: Lorena Ostase, Sonia Seraficeanu, Eva Kerekes and Cristina Laslo.

Ostase, Seraficeanu and Kerekes rewarded the trust of Transylvanian fans and scored 4 of Romania's first 5 goals. After a few minutes in which Portugal kept close to the table, the hosts took total control of the game, the only player who stood out for the Portuguese was Luciana Rebelo, the former handball player of Team Esbjerg.

Romania put on a show and, in the 13th minute, after a time-out requested by Portugal's coach as a reaction to a goal scored by Ostase from their own half, Ovidiu Mihăilă, the new selector of our national team, took the starters off the field.

There followed a period with some moments of confusion, with spectacular successes, but also with trivial mistakes, but Romania's advantage was not put in danger. Rebeca Necula, Sorina Grozav and Mihaela Mihai stood out in this sequence and, at halftime, the score was 23-12 for the tricolors.

Test success for the tricolors: 12 goals in the victory over Portugal

After returning from the locker room, the Romanians remained as connected to the game, despite the huge difference on the table. Mihăilă and his assistants continued to give important instructions to the players, and the handball players on the bench constantly encouraged their colleagues.

In the 41st minute, Elena Șerban entered the field, the only member of the national team, who had not performed in this game. Yuliya Dumanska and Bianca Curment, Romania's other two goalkeepers, had some excellent performances in the first two thirds of the match.

Alicia Gogîrlă scored Romania's 30th goal in the 44th minute, ending a drought period for Mihăilă's students. Taking advantage of the lack of suspense in the game, Gloria Bistrita's gallery started calling out the names of the players who came out on the ramp.

Returning to the field, Grozav led the home team's offense and scored several more spectacular goals. Romania didn't slow down at any point and started the Carpathian Trophy right: 40-28.

FINAL. Romania – Portugal 40-28

• Sorina Grozav was named the best player in the Romanian camp.

min. 60: The match ends with a sensational throw by Rebeca Necula! 40-28
min. 57: Mihaela Mihai, another fruitful counterattack. 38-25
min. 54: Asma Elghaoui scores with a lob, Elena Şerban defends once more. 36-22
min. 54: Ovidiu Mihăilă asks for time-out. 35-22
min. 52: Necula returns with a goal, then with a perfect pass to Mihaela Mihai. The winger from CSM Bucharest hits the crossbar. 35-22
min. 47: Elena Șerban, parry with her arm at a throw from 7 meters. 32-19
min. 45: Only smiles! Kerekes invents a brilliant pass, Ostase doesn't miss. 32-19
min. 45: Enter the tricolor gate and Elena Şerban. Enter Laslo. 31-19
min. 39: Pulled by the defender in front of her, Alicia Gogîrlă scores! 29-15
min. 36: Sorina Grozav, from 7 meters. 27-14
min. 35: Boiciuc, hit quite badly on the throw. She stands up and is applauded by the fans. 26-13
min. 34: Cristina Laslo breaks the ice with a goal on the counterattack. 25-13
min. 31: Alicia Gogîrlă also enters the field. She passes for Seraficeanu's goal. 24-12
The second half has begun!

min. 30: The half ends with a unique goal by Mihaela Mihai. Her lob hit all 3 bars then crossed the goal line. 23-12

31 goalsthe bookmakers predicted that Romania would score against Portugal. The tricolor handball players are far above expectations

min. 29: Mihaela Mihai has a perfect percentage, 4 out of 4! 22-11
min. 28: What a goal Necula scores! Explosive throw from over 10 meters. 21-11
min. 27: Superb combination between Red and Elghaoui. Curmenț blocks a throw at the level of the head with two arms. 20-11
min. 26: Curmentă enters the goal and blocks a throw from 7 meters. 19-10
min. 25: Mihaela Mihai, again on the counterattack. 19-10
min. 23: Necula throws herself at the opponent, at the sacrifice, and scores. 17-9
min. 22: The pivot Asma Elghaoui also scores. 16-9
min. 19: Successive with Mihaela Mihai at the end. 14-8
min. 16: Throw from 7 meters taken out by Necula and converted by Grozav. 13-6
min. 15: Another intervention by Iulia Dumanska. 12-6
min. 14: Andreea Popa forces a penetration and scores. Ostase recovers, scores from near his own semi-circle. Time-out Portugal. 12-6

3 goalsOstase scored 2 shots from 7 meters in 13 minutes and 21 seconds. The gallery chants his name

min. 13: Ostase scores and gets a takedown ed two minutes into the opposing camp. 10-5
min. 11: Dumanska saves a throw from 7 meters. 9-5
min. 10: Boiciuc, again a power throw. 9-5
min. 7: Sorina Grozav scores from 7 meters. 6-4
min. 5: Seraficeanu, on the counterattack, with a different procedure, between the goalkeeper's legs. 5-3
min. 3: Boiciuc throws directly into the net. Eva Kerekes scores immediately on the counterattack. 3-2
min. 1: Sonia Seraficeanu scores with a lob. 1-1

The match in Bistrita has started. Unfortunately, the room is occupied in a very small percentage.

Ovidiu Mihăilă, Iulia Curea and the Romanian staff / PHOTO: Capture @Pro Arena

In the first match of the day, Austria and the Czech Republic drew, score 29-29.

Romania's team for the “Carpathian Trophy”

• Goalkeepers: Iulia Dumanska (Minaur), Bianca Curmentă (Corona Brașov), Elena Şerban (Danurea Brăila)
• Far right: Sonia Seraficeanu (Gloria Bistrița), Mihaela Mihai (CSM Bucharest)
• Inter right: Alicia Gogîrla (SCM Craiova)
• COORDINATOR: Rebeca Necula (Rm. Vâlcea), Alisia Boiciuc (Corona Brașov), Andreea Popa (Brăila Danube), Elena Roșu (Brăila Danube), Cristina Laslo (Gloria Bistrița)
• pivot: Lorena Ostase (Gloria Bistrita), Sonia Vasiliu (Slatina), Asma Elghaoui (Rm. Vâlcea)
• Enter left: Sorina Grozav (Corona Brașov), Maryia Skrobic (Rapid)
• Far left: Gabriela Dumitrascu (Corona Brașov), Eva Kerekes (Gloria Bistrița)

Romania's program at the World Championship:

• November 27, 19:00 » Romania – Croatia
• November 29, 19:00 » Romania – Japan
• December 1, 21:30 » Denmark – Romania