Portugal’s women’s national handball team capped its run at the Carpathian Trophy with a decisive 41-29 victory over the Czech Republic, signaling strong preparation for its upcoming Euro 2026 qualifiers.
The win in Bistrita, Romania, gave Portugal a 2-1 record in the three-day tournament. The team previously secured a 33-19 win against Austria but fell 40-28 to host nation Romania.
Luciana Rebelo was a standout performer, scoring nine goals from 10 attempts against the Czechs. Goalkeeper Matilde Rosa also contributed significantly with nine saves from 24 shots.
Portugal led the Czech Republic 20-15 at halftime.
Joana Resende and Mihaela Minciuna each added four goals for Portugal. Eliska Desortova was the top scorer for the Czech Republic with eight goals.
Fellow Portuguese goalkeeper Caroline Martins made three saves from 17 opposing shots, including one from a seven-meter throw.
The tournament served as vital preparation for the European Championship 2026 qualification campaign. Portugal is currently in Group 4 of the qualifiers, holding a 1-1 record after two matches.
Their qualification journey includes a 29-22 loss to Montenegro and a narrow 26-25 home victory against Iceland. Portugal is set to resume its qualification fixtures in March with two matches against the Faroe Islands.