Despite a wobbly start, the Republic of Moldova threw of the 2025 IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship with a clear win, 33:21, over Azerbaijan.

GROUP B
Azerbaijan vs Republic of Moldova 21:33 (8:14)

The Republic of Moldova secured their largest win at the IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship since 2017 and only their third win in the last eight years, despite a wobbly start, which saw them go down 0:3 after eight minutes against Azerbaijan.

But when Moldova’s most experienced player, Roman Zacaciurin, scored his team’s first two goals, after eight minutes and 10 seconds and nine minutes and 24 seconds into the game respectively, it signalled the comeback of his team.

Taking advantage of Azerbaijan’s littany of turnovers, the Republic of Moldova bounced back and took a 5:3 lead, on the back of a 5:0 unanswered run, which prevented their opponents to score for eight minutes and 18 seconds.

In fact, Azerbaijan scored only two goals in 20 minutes between the seventh and the 27 minutes of the match, as Moldova’s goalkeeper, Ion Saharnean, saved 11 out of the 19 shots he faced, for a 58% saving efficiency.

By half-time, the Republic of Moldova were already six goals up, 14:8, but the gap was strengthened in the second half, when Azerbaijan’s mistakes were quickly punished by their opponents.

The Republic of Moldova had a 4:0 run, which was followed by a 5:0 unanswered run, creating a 9:1 run that decided the match, as Victor Ledeniov scored seven goals, with Vladislav Caraman adding six goals and Artiom Baltean scoring five more goals.

In the end, it was all about the shooting efficiency, with the Republic of Moldova boating a 69% efficiency, while Azerbaijan mustered a meagre 43%, only improved in the closing stages of the match, as the Republic of Moldova cruised to a 33:21 win.

Saharnean finished the match with 21 saves for a 57% saving efficiency, being named the Player of the Match, as the Republic of Moldova are now primed to challenge for a place in the semi-finals, after meeting the USA and Nigeria in the next matches.

Azerbaijan will have a mountain to climb and it will not get easier for them, facing the USA tomorrow, in the second match in Group B.

Photo credit: Bulgarian Handball Federation