Hungary appeared to be cruising to their first Olympic title when they led 23-17 early in the second period. In handball, leads of three or four goals are often enough to ensure victory. But the Danes, inspired by left-wing Anette Hoffman Moberg and back-court player Camilla Andersen, hit back in an incredible 15-minute spell in which the court was a blur of red shirts and white shorts.

They scored six in succession to level at 23-23 and then, after trading scores up to 26-26, hit the Hungarians with another devastating spell to seal their victory.

The roar from Denmark’s 3,000-strong army of face-painted fans nearly lifted the roof off the Superdome while a small group of Hungarians sat dejectedly among them, their red, white and green flags trailing at their feet.

Hoffman finished as top scorer with 11 goals, including a crucial four-in-a-row in the first half when the Danes were in danger of sinking without trace.

Andersen scored seven goals, including four late in the match which killed off Hungary’s lingering hopes of salvaging the tie and winning their biggest title since their sole world championship win in 1965.

“Maybe the difference today was that we had players who had been in finals before whereas the Hungarians didn’t,” said Andersen, part of the team which won in Atlanta.

The Hungarians had to settle for silver - still their best Olympic result after bronze medals in 1976 and 1996 - while world and European champions Norway took bronze after beating South Korea 22-21 in their earlier play-off.

Hungary’s defeat was particularly harsh for their superb back-court player Bojana Radulovic, the top scorer in last season’s Champions' League.

Playing in her first Olympic campaign for her adopted country, the former Yugoslavia international scored nine of her side’s 27 goals - several of them with spectacular jump shots from well outside the area.

Norway’s earlier victory was less spectacular but just as tense, the teams trading points throughout the match.

Winger Mia Hundwin scored Norway’s winner 1min 24sec from the final hooter, leaping into the South Korea goalmouth from the left and unleashing an unstoppable shot.

The Koreans managed two further desperate attacks but Norway’s inspirational goalkeeper, Heidi Tjugum, blocked the first and winger Monica Sandve intercepted the second.

Norway’s bronze added to their silver medals from Seoul and Barcelona and denied the South Koreans a place on the Olympic podium for the first time in 20 years.

South Korea took silver on their debut appearance at the Los Angeles Games in 1984 and then won the gold medal on home soil in 1988. They won gold again in Barcelona and silver in Atlanta four years ago.

This time round, the Asians payed a high price for poor discipline. They picked up six two-minute suspensions to Norway’s one and had playmaker Huh Soon-Young sent off with 3min 46sec left on the clock.

“There are many reasons why we lost the match but obviously a lack of discipline was one of them,” South Korean coach Koh Byung-Hoon said.