Youssef Ali scored a match-high nine goals to power Qatar to a 28-23 win over Egypt in the 26th Men’s Handball World Championship at the Royal Arena here yesterday.
The comfortable win helped Qatar bounce back from their shock opening defeat to Angola and kept them on course for a spot in the next phase of the tournament from Group D.
Coach Valero Rivera had been critical of the Qatar team after they lost by a mere point (24-23) and had let rip at the players after the match.
“We’ve just played the most horrible game in over five years. They were better than us in almost every aspect of the game. All we can do is look forward to the next match and forget that this game,” Rivera had said after the Angola match.
The players sure enough responded in style yesterday as they took control against Egypt right from the outset and stamped their authority, leading most of the time.
In fact, the first time Egypt edged a point ahead was at 18.07 minutes into the game when they led 9-8. Egypt again led 11-10 but Qatar caught up and then never looked back to edge the first half 15-12.
In the second session, however, it was Qatar all the way as they took a 23-17 lead with less than 14 minutes remaining in the match. That proved beyond the reach of Egypt as Qatar closed out the match in style.
Frankis Marzo with six, Rafael Capote with five and Anis Zouaoui, Allaedine Berrached and Ahmad Madadi with two apiece were the other main scorers for Qatar.
For Egypt, Ahmed El Ahmar excelled with six points, while Mohamed Shebib had five and Eslam Eissa four. Qatar will clash with Hungary today in their third match.
Qatar’s Youssef Ali goes for the goal against Egypt in Copenhagen yesterday.
