IHF Super Globe 2011: Ciudad Real meet THW Kiel in final today

Osama Tariq May 18, 2011 0

IHF Super Globe 2011: Ciudad Real meet THW Kiel in final today

DOHA: The defending champions Renovalia Ciudad Real defeated local Al-Sadd in the final preliminary round match here Tuesday and set date with THW Kiel in final of the Super Globe 2011 handball tournament to be played on Wednesday (today).

IHF Super Globe. Courtesy: Reuters

As it appears, two top European teams will now take on each other for the title where Spanish defending champion Ciudad Real, who also won the last two Super Globe tournaments in 2007 and 2010 are facing THW Kiel. Al-Sad from Lebanon and El Zamalek from Egypt will face off in the bronze medal playoff.

The hosts Al-Sadd of Qatar, who were the finalists in the last year’s Super Globe, will play against Pinheiros of Brazil in the fifth place playoff.

Ciudad Real. Courtesy: Reuters

With both the finalists in a great form, their history has a lot to promise for the final. Both Ciudad Real and Kiel have clinched all the EHF Champions League titles since 2006, where Ciudad Real won it in 2006, 2008, and 2009 while Kiel won it two times in 2007 and 2010. During the course, the Kiel were defeated two times in the Champions League finals in 2008 and 2009 by the Spaniards but they took revenge by beating them in the 2010 Champions League Semi-Final in Cologne 29:27.

Super Globe 2011 handball tournament. Courtesy: Reuters

Today’s Fixtures:

Final (8.30 pm local times): THW Kiel (GER) – Ciudad Real (ESP)

Bronze Final (6pm local times): Al-Sad (Lebanon) – El Zamalek (EGY)

Placement match 5/6 (4pm local times): Pinheiros (BRA)– Al-Sadd (QAT)

Placement match 7/8 (2pm local times): Al-Rayyah (QAT) – Southern Stars (AUS)

In the final preliminary round match Ciudad Real of Spain defeated Al-Sadd of Qatar 33:28 (15:14) which happened to be the best match of the tournament so far.

Both participating teams showed fight, tactics, speed, brilliant goalkeepers, and impressive goals to challenge each other in great style.

Ciudad Real coach Talant Dushebajew told media after the match, “It’s very hard for all players to have three matches in three days, and we knew that it will be a tough fight against Al-Sadd with their recruited players”.

Ciudad Real player Arpad Sterbik, said, “I expect a great final against Kiel. Both teams belong to the top of the world and both know very well. Be want to win but we know that it will be a tough struggle”.

On the flip side, Al-Sadd coach, Ahmed Deabes said, “We are satisfied with our performances in this tournament, even as we only play for the fifth and sixth places. Our problem today was that we had to change the players more often to secure their fitness. When they had recovered some minutes we came closer to this team of world class, but when we lacked fitness the distance arose again. We planned to play better than before and in some parts of the match we achieved this goal”.