Only two nations keep the winning chance in IHF Emerging Nations. Bulgaria reached the final in a flawless manner, Great Britain sent USA to the bronze fight.
Bulgaria has finished third in two previous editions of the championship. With the home crowd to support the venture and a solid defense the team managed by Ilyan Vasilev has a final experience around the corner.
In the semifinal, Bulgaria applied full gas and started with 6–0. Nikolay Petrov was excellent between the posts and Svetlin Dimitrov could be trusted with almost everything in the offense, 13 goals in all.
Great Britain had an early lead, but for many minutes USA could look up at a positive margin on the board. Francisco Pereira consistent efforts finally payed off and Louis Christy joined in with well placed shots when the match turned once again within the final ten minutes.
USA had an efficient wing player in Lukas Hansen and Pal Merkovszky kept the goalkeeping on high level in a fierce competition with Great Britain’s Kylian Ferrier.
Great Britain increased the lead to 26–23 with three minutes to go and time ran away from USA in the effort to catch up.
IHF Emerging Nations, semifinal
Bulgaria–Nigeria 30–23 (15–8)
USA–Great Britain 25–29 (14–13)