Considering Al Sadd’s squad featured the likes of 2015 IHF Men’s World Championship silver medallists Danijel Saric and Abdulla al-Karbi, it was clear from the outset that Sydney club were in for a tough task in their opening match. The Australian side kept up with the pace of the game through the opening 10 minutes, though they trailed by three goals after five minutes (1:4) before coming back.
The six-time Oceania champions began to find their own game and closed the gap to two by the time the clock showed 10 minutes. Al Sadd remained in control with a steady two to three-goal lead for some minutes, but Sydney University continued fighting and were rewarded with a one-goal deficit thanks largely to the performance of their goalkeeper Tomasz Szalkucki (36% in the first half).
As the 20-minute mark approached Al Sadd created a more decisive advantage of three goals (11:8), and Sydney coach Lionel Puyhardy called his first time-out. The hosts kept the same score line through to the half-time whistle however, but Sydney Uni left for the break still with a strong chance to decrease the deficit.
A suspension for Pierre Bonnin in the opening minutes of the half did not help Sydney’s chances, and while he was off the court Al Sadd pulled further ahead to lead 18:14 as the Australian side received another two minutes – this time for Luka Krajnc. When Sydney University returned to full strength the hosts had taken firm control with a six-goal score line that appeared to decide the semi-finalists. The same difference remained as Puyhardy called a time-out just inside the last quarter of the game (18:24), and though Sydney fought hard they simply could not reduce it. Al Sadd had replaced Saric with Rasheed Yusuff between the posts, and he made a spectacular save on a fast break in the 54th that kept his team in front by six at 29:23, while at the other end of the court Maikkel Takken had come into goal.
In the 57th minute Bonnin received a red card after three suspensions and as he left the court it was clear the game was over for his team. Al Sadd celebrated an eight-goal win at the buzzer and with it a place in the semi-finals, where they will meet Berlin. Two-time IHF Super Globe champions FC Barcelona opened the 11th edition of the tournament in Duhail Sports Hall with an emphatic 44-24 win over Esperance Sportive de Tunis, qualifying for the semi-final where they will meet the current EHF Champions League title holders HC Vardar. Vardar made their way to the semi-final with a 3-22 victory of their own, beating Iranian side Naft-O-Gas-Gachsaran by eight goals.