Qatar players celebrate after defeating Argentina in their final match of the Main Round of IHF Handball World Championship, in Cairo yesterday. TOP: Player of the Match, Qatar's Frankis Marzo celebrates with team-mates.
Doha: Asian champions Qatar yesterday mounted a remarkable comeback to beat Argentina 26:24 in their last main round clash at the IHF World Championship in Cairo, Egypt.
Qatar at one stage were 8-13 down before Al Annabi staged a brilliant fightback. The first period ended 13:12 in Argentina’s favour, though the score didn’t reflect the dominance of the Argentineans who lost footing towards the end of the period with Qatar recovering four goals in the final four minutes.
The second period saw the Qatari side upended their South American opponents who needed just a win to progress to the quarter-finals, as Frankis Marzo’s goalscoring exploits made the difference..
Marzo scored 8 goals to bag Player of the Match award.
Also yesterday, Japan bowed out of the Championship after defeating Bahrain 29:25.
The first period ended with Japan leading their Asian counterparts 19:12, with Jin Watanabe scoring six goals and at the other end of the court, keeper Yuta Iwashita saved nine goals to help set the tone for the tie. Japan kept up the heat on the Bahraini side throughout the period, with the western Asian side not putting up much of a challenge to Japan's superiority although they did narrow the deficit.
Japan’s Tatsuki Yoshino, who scored 9 goals was chosen as Player of the Match.
With this result, Japan finishes fifth in Group II ensuring a 17th-20th place finish, while Bahrain sit at the bottom of the group and stand to finish anywhere between 21st and 24th.
Elsewhere, in Group 1, Spain defeated Hungary 36:28 in their final match of main round at New Capital Sports Hall, Cairo.
Spain and Hungary both have booked their places in the quarter-finals.
The La Roja Furia dominated the first period of the game against Hungary with a 21:14 lead.
Spain continued their superb show in the second period as they finished the game with 36:28 victory over Hungary.
Spanish goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez De Vargas claimed the Player of the Match Award after a superb performance during the game.
Hungary are placed second in Group I ranking with 8 points, while Spain snatched the group’s lead with 9 points after Monday’s victory.
Spain will face Norway in the quarter-finals of the World Championship after the latter placed second in Group III of the main round, while Hungary will play against France. Spain started their mission in the main round of Egypt 2021 in a high level, beating Germany 32:28, Uruguay 38:23 before claiming a deserved victory over Hungary.
The Magyars defeated Brazil 29:23 in the first game at the main round, before beating Poland 30:26 but they lost to the group’s leaders Spain in the final game at the main round.
Meanwhile, Brazil defeated Uruguay 37:17 in their last match in Group I.
Despite losing hopes to march on in the World Championship, the Brazilians dominated the first period of the game against Uruguay with a 18:7 lead.
Brazil continued putting on their superb show in the second period as they finished the game with 37:17 victory over Uruguay.
Brazil’s pivot Rogerio Moraes claimed the ‘Player of the Match Award’ after a superb performance during the game, scoring 5 goals.
Brazil stayed in the 5th place of Group I ranking with three points and will be ranked between 17th and 20th overall, while Uruguay cemented in the bottom with no points, and will be ranked between 21st and 24th.
