Qatar prevail over Algeria for first win

By Our Correspondent/Ljubuski, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Qatar finally tasted success at the IHF Junior World Championship when they defeated Algeria 30-23 at the Gradska Sportska Dvorana Indoor Hall here yesterday.

 Irrespective of the final score line, it was not an easy game for Qatar. The African nation gave the Gulf side a mighty scare before eventually going down in the last 10 minutes.

 Algeria’s Mohamed Amine Hanitet scored the first goal of the match while Qatar’s Selvedin Omahic followed suit a minute later. Qatar, who started all their previous games at a blistering pace before dropping off, took things slowly this time.

The players patiently built up moves through the wings and waited for the opportunity to score. Qatari right-winger Eldar Memisevic, who was in good form, scored three times in quick succession to make it 6-3 by the eighth minute.

However, his natural game was affected after receiving a yellow card in the 16th for an unnecessary tackle on Aissani Fethi Hadj. Algerian goalkeeper Khalifa Ghebdane, who stands at 1.98M tall, was in fine nick and made many good saves.

At the other end, Qatar coach Dragan Zovko substituted Grco Mirnes with Abdulaziz al-thafiri early on. The 20-year-old grabbed the chance and delivered. Left back Omahic and left wing Abdulaziz al-Shammari kept Qatar’s scoreboard ticking, but the team’s poor defending undid most of the good work. With just two minutes left in the first half, Algerians Mohamed and Sami Bencheikh El Hocine scored back-to-back goals to draw level with Qatar for the first time (13-13). Hichem Daoud then made it 14-13 for Algeria at the stroke of half-time.

Qatar then went on a six-goal spree through Omahic, Kamaleldin Mallash and al-Shammari (all two each). It broke Algeria’s resolve and they gave up the fight.