BAHRAIN fell to their fifth defeat last night, going down 26-17 to Argentina in the fifth group stage game of the 2017 World Handball Championship at AccorHotels Arena in Paris, reports Mazin Rizk.
The loss means Bahrain will now play the 21-24th place playoff, while Argentina qualify for the 17-20th place playoff.
Bahrain’s Algerian coach Salah Bouchekriou started the match with a lineup consisting of Mohammed Hussain in goal with Ali Mirza, Hasan Al Samahiji, Mahmood Abdulqader, Bilal Askani, Komail Mahfoodh and Mahdi Saad as the field players.
Bahrain’s top scorer was Abdulqader with five goals, taking his tally for the tournament to 17. Saad and Husain Al Sayyad scored three goals each taking their tallies to 10 and 12 respectively.
Argentina’s star player Federico Fernandez scored eight goals, taking his tally to 28 to lead his team’s goal rankings.
Argentina started heavy in attack taking a four-goal lead within the first 10 minutes. Their goalkeeper Matias Schulz was deservingly named the man of match as his saves were a key factor in leading his team to victory.
The rest of the first half saw a slow-paced game with Argentina leading 13-8.
Bahrain surpringly started the second half in the same way they ended the first, their slow-paced attack giving Argentina enough time to block.
Coach Bouchekriou requested a timeout in the early minutes of the half to reorganise his game plan. It was clear, however, that Argentina’s coach Eduardo Gallardo had given his players instructions to replicate their form from the first half.
Bahrain continuously failed in their defence as Argentina kept hold of a five-goal margin until the last 10 minutes, when Bahrain’s players allowed the Argentinians to score six goals. Bahrain could only score two goals in the final 10 minutes and they also missed a penalty from Abdulqader.
Bahrain will now face either Saudi Arabia or Chile, whoever finish sixth in Group ‘C’, in the second playoff of the 21-24th place ranking tomorrow at 4pm.
The first playoff will see Japan face Angola today at 4pm. The winners will then qualify to play the 21st placed match, while the losing teams will play for the 23rd place.
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