Latvian handball team Photo: Paula Churkste/ LETA
The Latvian men’s handball team lost to the Czech national team in the repeated test match on Thursday. Latvia lost to the Czech Republic with 24:34 (12:21).
In the Latvian national team, Emīls Kurzemnieks stood out with six goals, Nikita Pančenko and Yevgenijs Rogonov scored five goals each. Daniels Reznikis was the top scorer in the Czech national team with eight goals, Martins Kocihs scored seven goals, and Jan Bleha finished the game with six goals.
Yevgeniis Rogonov put Latvia in the lead in the 42nd second of the game, but the Czechs responded with four goals, continuing to move away as a result, responding to each “goal” of the home team with two of their own and winning the first half with 21:12. In the second half, also thanks to the goalkeeper Edgars Kukš, the score difference was reduced to seven goals several times, but later the Czech Republic increased the advantage to double digits, celebrating a convincing victory. Kurzemnieks from the Latvian national team and Režnickis from the visiting team were recognized as the best players of the match.
It has already been reported that in the first game on Wednesday, Latvia was behind with a six-goal deficit after the first half, but achieved a draw (24:24). At the end of the year, the traditional Riga City Council Handball Cup will not take place, instead the Latvian national team will play two test matches with the Czech Republic. The next official matches – European Championship qualification matches – for the Latvian national team are scheduled for March and April. Estevans Alvaro Senovilja and Arnolds Straume help the head coach of the Latvian national team Davors Čuturas in his work with the national team.
The composition of the Latvian national team for the test matches against the Czech Republic:
goalkeepers – Edgars Kukša (Aurich, Germany), Raitis Puriņš (ASK Zemessardze/LSPA), Rolands Lebedevs (Hordur, Iceland);
left side – Rihards Leja (“Ogre”/”Hydrox”), Richards Juzup (Dobeles “Tenax”), Kristians Ingus Jonuška (“ASK Zemessardze”/LSPA);
left outer – Emīls Kurzemnieks (Dobeles “Tenax”), Roberts Rancāns (“ASK Zemessardze”/LSPA);
right side – Linards Usāns (Dobeles “Tenax”), Andis Bors (MSĂ);
good outsiders – Valdis Kalniņš (MSG), Nikita Panchenko (Dobeles “Tenax);
match managers – Andy Kushner (Hordur, Iceland), Kristers Rihards Ozols (ASK Zemessardze/LSPA), Raul Erlend Serafimović (MSG);
line players – Evgeniis Rogonovs (MSG), Intars Jomats (“Ogre”/”Hydrox”), Artūrs Meikšāns (Pelvas “Serviti”, Estonia).
