Serbia U20 W vs Sweden U20 W

Sweden started sharper, racing to a 15-10 half-time lead built on efficient fastbreak play and clinical finishing. Hanna Lundvall (#14) led the Swedish attack with six goals from 11 attempts (55%), while Caroline Kallio (#5) and Märtha Dittschlag (#9) both went perfect from the field, scoring four each without a miss.

Serbia's shooting in the first half was erratic — just 10 goals from 39% efficiency — but goalkeeper Tatjana Činku (#91), who had starred against Austria in the group stage with a 47% save rate, kept her side within reach.

Whatever head coach Saša Bošković said at half-time worked. Serbia emerged with far better structure in attack and greater urgency in defence. Tamara Dušić (#23) was the match-winner, scoring six goals from seven attempts (86%), while Tara Marinović (#8) added five from eight (62%).

The decisive swing came in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Serbia outscored Sweden 8-3 in that spell, turning a 10-15 deficit into an 18-18 deadlock by the 45th minute. From there, the match became a tense back-and-forth, with neither side able to establish more than a one-goal lead until the final moments.

Sweden's shooting efficiency dropped from 55% in the first half to 35% in the second, while Serbia's climbed to 58%. The Scandinavian side managed just eight second-half goals — half their first-half output.

Tamara Dušić (Serbia) — The Serbian right back was unstoppable in the second half, finishing as her team's top scorer with six goals at 86% efficiency. Her movement off the ball and composure under pressure gave Serbia a reliable outlet when the game tightened.

Tara Marinović (Serbia) — Five goals from eight shots (62%) and tireless work in the attacking phase. Marinović was involved in nearly every meaningful Serbian attack after the break.

Hanna Lundvall (Sweden) — The pick of Sweden's players with six goals from 11 shots. Lundvall kept her team in the contest during the second-half slump but lacked sufficient support from her teammates.

Caroline Kallio (Sweden) — A perfect 4/4 shooting display. The Swedish wing was clinical but limited to just four attempts as Serbia's defence tightened.

Serbia's 62% shooting efficiency (24/39) tells the story of the comeback: after a woeful first half (39%), they finished at 62% overall thanks to a superb second half (58%). Sweden's 23 goals from 43 attempts (53%) marked a steep decline after the break — 15 goals on 55% in the first half, just eight on 35% in the second.

Both teams generated 17 near-range goals apiece, but Sweden's two fastbreak goals (to Serbia's zero) highlight how the match was played at different tempos in each half. Serbia's seven 7m penalty goals (with four converted) showed their ability to draw fouls and capitalise.

Serbia entered the main round carrying two points from their perfect group-stage record (wins over Paraguay, Angola, and Austria). This victory puts them on four points in Group I — joint top alongside France, who beat Austria 29-23 in the other Group I fixture on Monday. A quarter-final berth is now firmly within reach.

Sweden, who entered the main round with zero points after finishing second in Group H behind France, remain pointless in the group. They must beat Austria on Tuesday, 30 June (18:30 CST / 10:30 GMT) and hope other results go their way to keep quarter-final hopes alive.

Serbia next face France on Tuesday, 30 June (16:15 CST / 08:15 GMT) in what could decide top spot in Group I.

A match of two distinct halves: Sweden's first-half dominance was undone by a disciplined Serbian second-half response that tilted the game on its axis. Serbia's composure after the break — and Sweden's dramatic efficiency drop-off — proved the difference. For Serbia, this was a statement win from a side that fully believes it can reach the latter stages of this tournament.

Competition: 25th IHF Women's Junior (U20) World Championship — Main Round Group I Date: 29 June 2026 Venue: Shanxi Medical University Zhongdu Campus Gymnasium, Jinzhong, China Referees: Thiyagarajah Ramesh (GER), Thiyagarajah Suresh (GER) Half-time: 10-15 Full-time: 24-23