2011 IHF Super Globe: Al-Sadd take revenge, bronze medal

Osama Tariq May 19, 2011 0

2011 IHF Super Globe: Al-Sadd take revenge, bronze medal

DOHA: The Lebanese club exhibited a strong fighting spirit and greater international experience to take revenge from Egyptian club El Zamalek by 28:23 (13:10) in the bronze medal playoff match of the 2011 IHF Super Globe in Doha on Wednesday.

Maher Hamdar. Courtesy: Reuters

The both teams had met in the same situation in the last year’s IHF Super Globe but on that occasion El Zamalek had defeated the Lebanese club but this time Al-Sadd showed no weakness and after a real tough and physical fighting on the court they managed to take revenge in style.

The match would be remembered more for the excellence that the two goalkeepers – Jose Manuel Sierra for Al-Sadd and Mohamed Ibrahim for Zamalek – showed as players found it hard to find the net.

Perales Oscar. Courtesy: Reuters

Al-Sadd took initial control of the game but Egyptians came back strongly, backed by huge crowd support, to equalize the affair at 9-9 minutes before the halftime but Al-Sadd upped the pressure yet again to score three more goals before the halftime.

Al-Sadd kept the dominance in the second half and maintained the three goals lead till 45 minutes until Zamalek players faltered big adding two more goals in the lead.

Marco Krivokapic. Courtesy: Reuters

Zamalek tried to siege control by a number of attacks but their forwards lacked execution as a result several goal-scoring chances were spilt. Al-Sadd completed the job in a professional manner with their last goal in the 54^th minute that sealed the game for them by 26-21.

Marco Krivokapic, Ahmed Ehab, Khaled Hossam. Courtesy: Reuters

El Zamalek coach, Tarek Lofti, told media after the match, “My players were tired but showed a great fighting spirit. We have to admit that our opponent was not Al-Sadd from Lebanon but Valladolid, the third best team in Spain. So it was hard for us to stand their play. I am satisfied with fourth place considering that we played against three of the world’s best teams that are Ciudad Real, Valladolid and Veszprem represented through Al-Sadd from Qatar”.

Lebanon's Al-Sadd. Courtesy: Reuters

Zamalek player, Belal Awad, said, “It was our great objective to win the bronze medal again, but Al-Sadd was too strong for us. I am satisfied with this rank”.

On the flip side, Al-Sadd coach Mohamed Rashid said, “First I send congratulations to Zamalek, as they played on a high level not only the past 60 minutes but during the whole Super Globe. Fortunately our team was well prepared thanks to our coach, Juan Carlos Pastor”.

Al-Sadd player Khoder Nahas stated, “Third place means a lot to our club and to handball in Lebanon. We are thankful for the successful support from Valladolid”.