Jubuski, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Qatar yesterday finally tasted success at the IHF Junior World Championship when they defeated Algeria 30-23 at the Gradska Sportska Dvorana Indoor Hall.
The African nation gave the Gulf side a mighty scare before eventually going down in the last 10 minutes.
Algeria’s Mohamed Amine Hanitet scored the first goal of the match while Qatar’s Selvedin Omahic followed suit a minute later.
Qatar, which started all its previous games at a blistering pace before dropping off, took things slowly this time. The players patiently built up moves through their wingers and waited for the opportunity to score.
Qatari right winger Eldar Memisevic, who was in good form, scored three times in quick succession to make it 6-3 by the eighth minute.
However, his natural game was affected after receiving a yellow card in the 16th for a needless tackle on Aissani Fethi Hadj.
Algerian goalkeeper Khalifa Ghebdane was in fine nick and made many good saves.
At the other end, Qatar coach Dragan Zovko substituted Grco Mirnes with Abdulaziz Althafiri early on. The 20-year-old grabbed the chance and delivered.
Left back Omahic and left wing Abdulaziz Al Shammari kept Qatar’s scoreboard ticking, but the team’s poor defending undid most of the good work.
With just two minutes left in the first half, Algerians Mohamed and Sami Bencheikh El Hocine scored back-to-back goals to draw level with Qatar for the first time (13-13). Hichem Daoud then made it 14-13 for Algeria at the stroke of half-time.
Qatari players utilised the chance and took a three-goal lead (18-15) and then later on braved mounting pressure to seal their win.
Qatar will take on Switzerland in their last Group B game tomorrow.
THE PENINSULA
