Portugal beat Kosovo 33:25 in the Mediterranean Games on Thursday, extending their unbeaten run to four matches. The hosts move to 8 points from three games, while Kosovo's winning streak of draws comes to an end with their first defeat of the tournament.
Portugal had already shown they could handle pressure, beating Italy 31:30 just two days ago after a heavy loss to Egypt. Their form since March has been strong — three wins in five matches before this tournament, including victories over Sweden and Spain. By then, they had opened up a gap in the table that Kosovo simply could not close.
Kosovo arrived with three consecutive draws, never losing but never finding the net either. Their recent results tell a story of teams they should have beaten — Bosnia and Herzegovina twice, Great Britain — and heavier defeats against Egypt and Italy. To be fair, they had shown resilience, but this match exposed a different level of intensity.
The final score of 33:25 suggests Portugal controlled the tempo when it mattered most. They had worked a short corner in the opening exchanges, then switched to a higher tempo that Kosovo's defence could not match. The hosts felt the pressure early but recovered to close the game out in the final quarter.
Portugal sit second in the table with 8 points from three games, one behind whoever leads after Friday's fixtures. Kosovo drop to fourth with just 0 points from their four matches, a position that could prove costly if they cannot win any of their remaining games.