Top goal scorer for Qatar, Rafael Capote prepares to shoot against Germany during the 2017 Handball Men's World Championship, Eighth Finals at AccorHotels Arena in Paris yesterday. Qatar won 21-20 to advance to the quarter finals.
Asian champions Qatar scored five goals in the last five minutes without conceding any to stun European champions Germany and walk into the quarter-finals of 25th IHF Men’s World Handball Championship with a hard-fought 21-20 victory in Paris yesterday.
It was a splendid show of handball by Qatar in the final stages of the game, arguably the best of the Eight Finals in France as they bounced back from a 20-17 deficit to seal victory. Qatar will take on Slovenia in the quarter-final tomorrow.
Although, Germany led the 2015-runners up in the entire match, Qatar took the decisive lead in the last minute to end the match in jubilation.
The nail-biting game seemed to have slipped from Qatar’s hands when Germans took four-goal lead (17-13) with less than a quarter left in the match.
But the coach Valeiro Riveira fought back after they were 17-20 down in the 56th minute to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Cuban-born Qatari Rafael Capote was the hero, scoring nine goals in the low-scoring tie with Bertrand Roine finding the target on four occasions.
Just one goal separated the two handball giants in the first session with Germany holding the 10-9 advantage as they walked into the second half.
Qatar did well to hold the Germans who started off with great pace and managed to build a 6-2 lead by the 12th minute.
The European champions could have gained a better lead but Qatar goal-keeper Danijel Saric made several outstanding saves to keep them stretching the lead.
Saric also scored from a long range finding the right target, while neutralising the 19th minute attack from the opposition to make the score 8-9.
The Al Anabi never took the lead in the first half though they came on even terms with the Germans twice – 7-7 in 19th minute and 9-9 in 29th minute. But Qatar could have gained the lead had they not missed two penalties in the first half.
Meanwhile, defending champions France overcame Iceland 31-25 to reach the quarter-finals in Lille on Saturday night. The game was watched by 28,010 people, a record crowd for the tournament.
It was sixth consecutive win for the hosts in the 2017 event. France are targeting their sixth world title having claimed it in the 1995, 2001, 2009, 2011 and 2015 editions.
In other Eighth Finals, Norway downed Macedonia 34-24 in Albertville while Spain saw off Brazil 28-27 in Montpellier.
In the day's other last-16 clash Slovenia beat Russia 32-26 in Paris.
The quarter-finals of the 24-team event will be played tomorrow while the semi-finals are slated to be held on January 26 and 27.
The final will be played on January 29.
