Danes defend crown in style

Denmark clinched their third straight Olympic women's handball crown with a narrow victory over South Korea which was decided 4-2 on penalties.

The scores were repeatedly locked in a dramatic match in which the Koreans let a three-point second-half lead slide.

With just three seconds of normal time left Denmark's Karin Mortensen produced a fine save to force extra time.

Dane Katrine Frueland equalised at 34-34 to take the game to penalties where Mortensen twice denied the Koreans.

Lim O Kyeong and Moon Pil Hee both saw their consecutive efforts saved by the 26-year-old goalkeeper's feet.

The Korean looked on course for an upset after they edged into a 33-31 lead with two minutes left in the second period of extra time.

But Denmark dug in and Frueland scored twice and converted a penalty - six seconds from time - to put the defending champions back in the game.

The Danes kept their cool in the shoot-out as Frueland, Lotte Kiaerskou, Line Daugaard and Henriette Mikkelsen all converted their penalties to back up Mortensen's good work.

Denmark only entered the competition in 1996 but have an extraordinary record - and won on Sunday in front of the Danish royal family.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/handball/3609486.stm