Flensburg’s Eggert takes game away from Jaish

El Jaish’s Ahmed Elahmar tries to go past SG Flensburg-Handewitt goalkeeper Mattias Andersson during their 2014 IHF Super Globe match yesterday; (right) Jaish’s Zarko Markovic scored eight goals. PICTURES: Jayaram

By Sahan Bidappa/Doha

In the end, after a gruelling 60-minute encounter at the Qatar Handball Association Complex, it was European Champions Flensburg who earned the bragging rights, winning the final preliminary match 29-24 against the Qatar and Asian champions. The hosts, who finished third last year, have a difficult task on their hands as they face defending champions Barcelona tomorrow for a place in the final.

Both the teams hit top form yesterday and were determined not to let each other to win the group. Jaish made their intentions clear very early in the game, taking a 5-3 lead. But for Flensburg, who were hampered by injuries to seven players, left-wing Anders Eggert single-handedly kept them in the hunt.

The 32-year-old from Denmark top-scored with 10 goals in the match. In fact, he scored the German side’s first four goals before team-mate Anders Zachariasse took over. Zachariasse’s three successive goals gave Flensburg the lead, and then the pivot found the target twice more as the European champions went into half-time with a 16-13 lead.

El Jaish failed in their bid to counter-attack and in the process gave up the lead in the first half. But they regrouped and drew level ten minutes into the second session. Their go-to-man Zarko Markovic, who had scored just thrice in the first 30 minutes, was much better in the second as he found the net five times. The leads changed hands regularly as Markovic and Flensburg’s Johan Zachariassen took turns to score.

Markovic and Jaish could have had more if not for some superb saves from Flensburg goalkeeper Mattias Andersson. The 36-year-old Swede was too quick with his reflexes and frustrated Jaish, which allowed Flensburg to take the advantage.

From 21-all, the Bundesliga side made it 24-21 as the hosts slipped under pressure. And with Andersson standing like a rock in front of the post, it made it very difficult for the fighting Jaish to narrow down the lead. But the match should hold them in good stead as they take on mighty Barcelona in the semis.

Flensburg coach Ljubomir Vranjes paid credit to his fighting spirit. “I am very happy with my players’ performance today. They did everything a coach wants to see from his team. We did an amazing job in defence, our goalkeeper was great and all this after losing our playmaker (Thomas Mogensen) due to injury in the first five minutes or so,” the Swede said.

“I am even more pleased because we achieved that playing against a very good team and despite being hit by injuries. Overall I am satisfied with the three victories in Round 1, but it was only today that we were really good and I feel one hundred percent satisfied. This is the way I want to see my players perform. You know we have already played four matches in one of the top leagues – if not the best – in the world, the German Bundesliga, and we are a little bit tired,” Vranjes added.

Jaish coach Zoran Kastratovic conceded Flensburg were too strong for his team. “Flensburg was the better team today. We spent a lot of energy on our defence as we tried to stop our opponents’ transition play. We tried to stay close in the second half but in the end we lost by four goals. Now we have to play against Barcelona in the semi-finals, one of the best teams in the world. It will be very difficult, but we have a rest day ahead of us to prepare for this game, which is a big challenge for us.”