Israel Under-21 Handball Team Secures First Win Over Bosnia at European Championship

The Israeli Under-21 handball team achieved their first victory at the European Championship in Romania on Thursday, defeating Bosnia 43-33. The match showcased standout performances from goalkeeper Alon Rozbi, who made nine saves, and Louik Bakso, who scored 10 goals from 12 attempts and was named player of the match. Israel took an early lead with goals from Bakso, Yonatan Pelech, and Tal Ekstein, quickly establishing a 5-1 advantage.

Despite Bosnia narrowing the gap several times, Israel maintained control, with key defensive plays and timely goals extending their lead. Coach Chen Pomerantz's timeouts helped shift momentum back to Israel, who led 23-18 at halftime, highlighted by Bakso's six consecutive goals without a miss. In the second half, Bosnia briefly closed in to 24-22, but Israel responded strongly, with Bakso and Pelech pushing the lead back to five goals.

Bosnia's player Frits was sent off with a red card after multiple penalties, and Israel capitalized on penalty shots by Asaf Sharon to maintain a comfortable lead. Tal Galili's goal extended the lead to 32-26, and although Bosnia reduced the deficit to 32-28, a crucial goal by Adi Cohen halted their momentum. Israel finished the game confidently with a 43-33 win.

The team will next face Romania on Saturday at 17:00, aiming to secure second place in their preliminary group behind reigning European champions Sweden. The victory marks a significant step forward for the Israeli squad in the tournament.

Key scorers included Bakso with 11 goals, Ekstein with 7 (without a miss), Sharon with 6, and Pelech with 5. Goalkeepers Rozbi and Yonatan Benshtrit each made nine saves, contributing to the team's strong defensive effort.