Bahrain league champions advance to semi-finals as top team from preliminary round pool

TDT | Manama                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Bahrain league champions Al Najma wrapped up their preliminary round campaign in the 39th Gulf Clubs Men’s Handball Championship last night with a nail-biting 27-26 victory over Al Arabi of Qatar.

The Bahrainis secured their place in the semi-finals as winners of Group A in the first stage of the competition, which is currently being played at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.

It was Najma’s third straight win and they will next face in the final four the runners-up of Group B, who will be determined tonight.

Egyptian national team star Ahmed Alahmer scored two key goals for Najma in last night’s win.

He made back-to-back conversions that broke a 24-all deadlock and gave the home side a two-goal cushion heading into the match’s closing moments.

Arabi were able to get back to within one, but then Adel Mohammed restored Najma’s two-goal advantage with just 30 seconds to play.

Although Arabi replied once again, it was too late as Najma held on to claim the hard-earned, single-goal triumph while handing their opponents their first loss of the tournament.

Earlier in the contest, Arabi led 8-7 in the first half but then Najma strung together the next four goals.

Young Qassim Qambar then scored just before the break to help give Najma a slim 12-11 edge heading into the locker rooms.

After the re-start, Najma powered ahead 22-18 but Arabi fought back gradually to tie the proceedings at 24-all.

That set the stage for Alahmer’s crucial goals, and the final conversion for Najma by Mohammed.