BAHRAIN conceded their third defeat at the World Handball Championship, going down 31-29 against Egypt at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris yesterday.
Bahrain’s coach Algerian Salah Bouchekriou used a lineup consisting of Mohammed Hussain in goal, with Ali Mirza, Mohammed Mirza, Bilal Askani, Komail Mahfoodh, Mahdi Saad and Hussain Al Sayyad as the field players.
A quick start from Bahrain saw Mahfoodh score their first goal of the game giving Bahrain the lead in the first minute.
Egypt quickly fired back through Yehia El Deraa who equalised with a far range shot.
Bahrain took the lead once again through Ali Eid, but they were unable to hold onto it as Egypt scored twice through Eslam Eissa and Ahmed Khairy who took their lead to 3-2.
Egypt took control of the match with goalkeeper Karim Hendawy consistently blocking Bahrain’s efforts.
Not only did Hendawy prevent Bahrain from taking the lead, he also managed to play a playmaker’s role, setting up Egypt’s Mohammed Sanad who extended their lead to 6-3.
Bahrain managed to lessen Egypt’s lead to only one goal after a brilliant solo run by Mirza, who found no difficulty in putting the ball past Hendawy’s net taking the score to 12-13.
Bahrain also found the equaliser later on through Saad, who chipped the ball easily over Hendawy taking the score to 13-13.
Egypt managed to take the lead once again through Eissa, who found himself in front of goal and scored Egypt’s 14th goal of the night.
Egypt’s manager later introduced Ahmed El Ahmar who proved to be the difference in the dying minutes of the first half scoring three times.
Egypt managed to cruise to the end of the first half leading 17-15.
Egypt started the second half determined to widen the score-gap as much as possible.
The difference between the two sides was clearly seen in the second half as Egypt’s performance depended more on fast play.
Egypt managed to widen their lead to 26-20 as Bahrain fought to stay in the game.
In the final minutes of the game, Bahrain fought back through Askani, Al Sayyad and Mahfoodh who took the score to trail 28-30.
Mohammed Al Maqqabi could have easily given Bahrain a point in the game but he tripped running up the court and lost the ball to Egypt’s Shebib.
The counter attack saw Egypt’s Khairy score their 31st goal.
Bahrain’s Mahmoud Abdulqader also missed a penalty with one minute left as Hendawy blocked it wisely. The rebound was later scored by Saad to reduce Egypt’s lead to 31-29.
Bahrain will face Denmark tomorrow at 7.45pm in their fourth match of the group stage.
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