Qatar suffer second successive loss in Bosnia

By Sports Reporter/Ljubuski, Bosnia

Qatar lost its second game in a row at the IHF Junior World Championship at the Gradska Sportska Dvorana Indoor Hall in Ljubuski, Bosnia and Herzegovina yesterday.

After the 19-21 reversal against Croatia in the opener, they lost to Germany 22-27.

Qatar started the game strongly against the Germans. Left wing player Hamdi Ayed opened the side’s scoring in the fourth minute. A few seconds later, Hadi Hamdoun improved the lead to 2-1. Qatar raced ahead 4-2, but Germany fought back methodically. Their left back player Julius Kuhn often troubled Qatar’s defence. A back injury to star player Hamdoun, in the 16th, added further pressure on Qatar.

But they pegged back the Germans and took a three-goal lead in the 17th.

Qatar goalkeeper Grco Mirnes put up a scintillating show under the bar and punched away several shots at goal.

Germany, who had the services of taller and stronger players, gradually took control of the game. A two-minute penalty to Selvedin Omahic made things easier for them. But Qatar held on and ended the first half with a two-goal advantage (12-10). The Germans were a lot more aggressive in the second half. Markus Hansen leveled scores with in the third minute (13-13) and Jan Forstbauer put the team ahead a few seconds later.

To Qatar’s relief, Milan Sajin rediscovered his scoring form in the second half. But the Germans kept pushing ahead with deadly accuracy. By the 47th minute, they were ahead by five goals (22-17). Qatar seemed to have completely given up hope in the final 10 minutes and it was clear they won’t be able to script a comeback.

Hadi Hamdoun was Qatar’s top scorer with four goals while Germany’s Tim Dahlhaus, Patrick Zieker and Julius Kuhn all scored four goals each.

Qatar had lost their first match against Croatia  19-21. Infact they were the unlucky loser against their competitors in a match which was levelled for more than 55 minutes.

Asian champions Qatar showed a stable defence and played patiently in attack in the first half, while the runners-up of the European championship did not find the right means to break the Qatari defence in the first half.  The Gulf team was in lead all the time before the break and even increased the gap to surprising four goals at half-time (13:9). Who thought the Croats would rise after the break was completely wrong.

Still they did not find their pace, while Qatar was backed by a strong defence. The key for the Croatian catch-up chase was the red card against Qatari Allaedine Berrached in minute 41. At this time his team was in lead by 14:11 – and the suspension shocked Qatar, as Croatia took benefit of the situation and equalised for the first time at 17:17.

By scoring four consecutive goals from 16:17 to 19:17 they broke the necks of the brave fighting Asian champions, who only scored six times after the break, and kept the two goal advance until the end.

Qatar will next take on the Netherlands tomorrow.