Doha: Qatari clubs El Jaish, Lekhwiya and Al Gharafa dominated on the second day of the 17th Asian Handball Clubs’ League Championship to register contrasting wins at the newly-built Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena Al Sadd yesterday.
Defending champions El Jaish stormed to a 38-27 win over Iran’s Manyazium Ferdows Club in the Group B match, while Lekhwiya pipped another Iranian club Samenalhojaj 23-22 in a cliff hanger Group A encounter.
Another Qatari club Al Gharafa joined the party by defeating Al Salt of Jordan 34-22 in Group A, to make it a perfect record for the three clubs from the hosts’ country taking part in the continental championship.
The event is contested by ten top clubs from Asia, who are divided into two groups.
Two top teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals on December 6, while the final will be held on December 8.
For the third consecutive year, Doha is hosting the Asian Clubs League, a qualification event for the IHF Super Globe 2015.
In 2012 and 2013, two Qatar based teams Al Rayyan and El Jaish won the Asian Club League crown.
The record winner of the competition also comes from Doha as Al Sadd has won the event five times in between 2000 to 2005. Overall, Qatari teams have won 13 medals in the tournament: seven gold, three silver and three bronze.
Yesterday the match between Lekhwiya and Samenalhojaj went to the wire.
Luis Jorge Pavan, proved to be a savior for the winning team.
The Cuban scored with one minute and 32 seconds from time to increase the victory chances of Lekhwiya later on Youssef Almalem brought off a brilliant save, his 16th save of the match to put the issue beyond doubt and quell the late comeback of the Iranian club.
For Lekhwiya yesterday’s win was the second win of the group stage.
Lekhwiya’s middle back Johan Boisedu said the team ihas hit peak form in the tournament.
“We knew that they would be strong opponents sporting several Iranian national team players plus two helping players with European merits. So it was very important to show what we are capable of doing. In our attack play we work together quite nicely but I believe that we still can improve. So we will use the rest day wisely and talk about some areas and find solutions. Also we can find some rest, the preparation period for this tournament has been long. But after two victories I can say that we are content so far, we are on track,” Boisedu said. The Frenchman praised the newly-built Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena which was inaugurated on Saturday.
“This hall is amazing, not only for the spectators but also for the professional players. Everything has been thought of – it is a pleasure. It is a feeling comparable to a driver who gets to drive a Formula One car.”
El Gharafa, who finished runners-up to El Jaish in the Qatar League, came back from 2-5 down to equalise at six through Hany Elfakharany and Sobhi Saied, who slammed three and two goals, respectively. Thereafter, Al Gharafa netted a go-ahead goal by Fahad al-Bishi. The local side then kept charging ahead as the scoring was shared mainly by top-scorer Ahmed Abdelhak (8), Bishi (7) and Saied (6). The trio also pushed Gharafa from 10-9 to 18-14 before the interval in just seven minutes.
After that, Al Gharafa were in just cruise mode and wrapped up the easy victory, with Mohammed Al Maidama and Gulzani Chadli striking four of the last five goals.
Mohammad Sayd Mustafa was Al Salt’s best striker with 5 goals. Nayif Hassan and Jassim Al Maqbi had 4 and 3, respectively.
Meanwhile, El Jaish defeated Manyazium Ferdows Club to edge close to a semi-final spot. The match was played in a frantic pace, especially in the first half when the Qatari team showed great efficiency in scoring, which helped them built a five-goal lead (19-14). In the last match of the day Kuwait Club defeated Al Khalij Club of Saudi Arabia 23:22.
Today Al Gharafa Club will take on Al Qurain Sporting Club Kuwait at 1.00pm.
The Peninsula
