Watch the main highlights of the match here.
Portugal drew with North Macedonia in the second round of Group B at the European Handball Championship and has yet to secure a spot in the main round.
This match proved to be more challenging than the opening game, where Portugal dominated Romania. Facing a stronger opponent than Romania, Portugal once again had a slow start. Technical errors, turnovers, and saves from the well-known Mitreviski (who previously played for FC Porto and Benfica) allowed North Macedonia to take a two-goal lead (4-2).
They also led 10-9 with ten minutes to go in the first half, when coach Paulo Pereira made a strategic decision that turned the game around. Switching to a 7-on-6 attack gave Portugal more balance offensively and more solidity in defense, and at half-time they led by 13-11.
The second half started very differently. Portugal stuck to its strategy, had Francisco Costa (11 goals) in fine form (he even drew a sending-off from Markoski), and built up a five-goal lead (13-18). It looked like the game was settled, but the Macedonians, with Kuzmanovski (15 goals) in great form, took advantage of a few Portuguese two-minute suspensions to level the score (26-26) and give themselves hope.
The closing minutes were tense. Portugal survived a suspension for Iturriza, but North Macedonia kept responding, and as the final minute began, the score was still tied (29-29). In the final attack, Tomovski saved shots from Martim Costa and Leonel Fernandes, but Portugal regained possession for one last chance, only for Iturriza to lose the ball, and the match ended in a draw.
Portugal now has three points from two games and will need a result against Denmark to secure qualification for Group I of the Main Round, where reigning European champions France and Norway are already waiting.