Placeholder canvas

Son beats dad as Qatar bow to Spain

Date:

World champions Spain kept the old order of handball alive with a slender 28-25 victory over the team threatening to become one of the sport’s new powers, Qatar in their Group A clash on Wednesday.

The game certainly tested loyalties and not just among the group of Spanish fans who have been flown to the Gulf by the hosts to cheer for Qatar.

That was true in one particular household more than any other.

The current coach of Qatar is Valero Rivera, 61, a Spaniard who led his own country to World Cup success in 2013, and he was warmly embraced by many of the current Spanish squad before the game began.

His son, also called Valero Rivera, 29, just happened to be playing left wing for Spain.

In front of an almost full house at the new 15,000 seater stadium in Lusail, the two sides, who had already qualified for the last 16 of the tournament from Group A, played out a high quality encounter.

Spain started the brighter, taking an early lead, but three moments of inspired finishing from Mahmoud Hassab Alla ensured Qatar were always in touch.

And it was his third goal in the 28th minute which put Qatar in the lead for the first time.

By the break it was 10-8 to Qatar and without a goal in the final six minutes of the half – thanks largely to Qatar’s Montenegro-born goalkeeper Goran Stojanovic – Spain becoming noticeably more frustrated.

This was never more noticeable than when a fine finish by Joan Canellas was ruled out as the whistle had already blown for half time.

The second half began with both sides swapping goals until the two goal margin was wiped out, almost inevitably, by Spain’s Valero Rivera jnr in the 14th minute of the second half to make it 18-18.

And it was Rivera jnr moments later who drew Spain level again at 19-19, drawing an anguished look from his father on the sidelines.

The teams remained locked together until the 55th minute when Victor Tomas put Spain in the lead, 25-24, for the first time since the first half.

Zarko Markovic, another Montenegrin playing for Qatar, top scored with 10 goals and made it 25-25.

But the Spaniards were able to score three unanswered goals in the final three minutes, two from Julen Aguinagalde, to inflict a first defeat on Qatar and maintain their 100 per cent record after four games.

The Riveras, snr and jnr, embraced and kissed at the end, and both their sides should remain in the tournament for some time yet.

Afterwards, Rivera jnr revealed the pair are close and had spoken before the game but he “didn’t think about the coach” during the match.

In Wednesday’s other games, Belarus beat Chile 34-23, their first win, and Slovenia beat Brazil 35-32 to qualify for the last 16.

Brazil have to beat Chile to qualify in their final group game and hope Belarus cannot beat Qatar.

In Group B, Croatia beat Macedonia 29-26, with teams already through to the next round.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related

Biden Administration Approves $60Million Aid For Baltimore Bridge Collapse

The Federal Administration in a statement on Thursday said that it has provided the quick-release funds to rebuild the collapsed bridge within hours of receiving a request from Maryland Department Of Transportation

Fact Check: Lok Sabha Polls Will Be Held Using EVMs; Don’t Fall For False Claim

Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, a newspaper cutout...

Four Killed, Five Wounded In Stabbing Incident In North Illinois

Redd mentioned that not all of the victims had stab wounds and none of them were shot. She added by saying that they have a suspect in custody

Hope Everyone’s Rights Are Protected: UN On Kejriwal’s Arrest

Delhi CM Kejriwal was arrested by the ED(Enforcement Directorate) on March 21 in the Delhi liquor policy case, days ahead of the Lok Sabha polls