Sweden gets the chance to win its first Olympic Games medal, and the team can thank Nina Koppang for that.
With 15 seconds left of the second half, Hungary had taken a one-goal lead in the quarterfinal drama in Lille.
Bombed in the equalizer
Sweden took a timeout before a final equalizing attempt that could take the match to extra time.
Then 22-year-old Koppang stepped forward. Earlier in the final minute, she was blown offside for a step fault and gave Hungary the chance to take the lead. Now Koppang bombed in 29–29.
I felt: I have to get revenge on this, it can't be over now. Then it sat and then it felt like the extra time went our way, says Nina Koppang to TV company Max.
In extra time, there was no doubt about it. Johanna Bundsen had made a series of saves during regular time and now nailed it completely when Sweden could take the lead 33–29.
And Sweden could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
There was no fear, no anxiety. There was only: we're taking this, says national team coach Tomas Axnér to Max.
I'm so proud that we managed to win this match, says Nina Koppang.
France is the reigning Olympic Games champion after the gold in Tokyo three years ago.
It's always a mountain to climb to beat France, but it's just a matter of putting on the climbing shoes and trying, says Axnér.
Large audience in Lille
Sweden was in the lead throughout the entire first half, but 16–15 at halftime was a fragile lead.
The women's national team has never played in front of such a large audience as in the quarterfinal arena in Lille, where the majority of the 27,000 seats in the stands were occupied. The spectators created a wonderful atmosphere and the tension increased as the excitement grew.
Hungary caught up and took the lead for the first time with just over 20 minutes left to play.
The teams followed each other, and everything culminated in a pair of incredibly exciting final minutes, where Nina Koppang finally became the hero who ensured that Sweden's Olympic Games are not over.
The blue and yellow handball ladies instead get the chance to win their first medal in a global championship.
The semifinal against host nation France will be played on Thursday.
