Handball World Cup: Austria Secures Main Round with Victory Against Qatar
In addition, Lukas Hutecek and his team are taking two important points to Varazdin, where they are aiming for the quarterfinals. However, before that, there is a "bonus game" against record world champion France on Saturday (6:00 p.m./live ORF 1). Austria wants to gain confidence for the upcoming tasks. "An incredible game, we fought incredibly from the first to the last minute," said team boss Ales Pajovic on ORF. "Everything worked, I am very happy about the two points." Lukas Hutecek was also overjoyed: "You could see again how great this team is. I am incredibly proud of this squad."
"Shock" for Austria
Austria, driven by around 500 fans, started the match well, always leading by two goals at the beginning. As expected, in the absence of captain Mykola Bilyk and Janko Bozovic, they struggled with shots from the backcourt, but usually found solutions over the wings or the circle. They also benefited several times from two-minute penalties for the opponent and did not warm up the Qatari goalkeepers.
Even the shoulder injury of Boris Zivkovic, who acted in the Bozovic position, should remain without consequences after a quarter of an hour. "It hurts extremely, it was very hard for all of us at halftime. It was not only a handball shock but also an emotional shock," said Tobias Wagner. While Qatar missed the chance to take the lead for the first time at 8:8 during this phase, Red-White-Red took the opportunity and pulled ahead again to 10:8. However, the Asian champion, led by the powerful Cuban-born Frankis Marzo, did not let go easily.
Qatar Defeated
But Austria also kept its nerve in a hectic initial phase after the break, coped well with the efforts in attack and, thanks in no small part to a brilliantly performing wing Sebastian Frimmel (9 goals), went into the final quarter with a four-goal lead. A cushion that the increasingly clueless Qatari offense could not make up.
As bitter as the Zivkovic injury is, the Austrian Handball Federation (ÖHB) was able to deliver the good news about Bozovic's operation off the field. The 39-year-old, who injured his meniscus just before the start of the World Championship, was successfully operated on Wednesday in Korneuburg by team doctor Peter Valentin and should be ready to play again in about two months.
Second Victory at Handball World Championship
Handball World Championship, preliminary round, Group C, 2nd round: Austria - Qatar 28:26 (16:14). Best scorers AUT: Frimmel 9, Wagner, Lastro each 5
(APA/Red)
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