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Tribune News Network
Doha
A highly competitive encounter between Al Saad and Sydney University saw the Wolves emerge as winners 27-22 to advance to the the semi-finals of the 2018 IHF Super Globe at Al Duhail Sports Club on Tuesday.
Al Sadd have only lost once to the Sydney side since they made their Super Globe debut in 2012 -- suffering a shock loss in 2015. Al Sadd, 2015 World Championships runners-up put on a ,astercalss show in the second period as they built a healthy lead.
The first period ended 13-13 as the visitors from Down Under held on with their goalkeeper keeping in the match with some acrobatic saves. But the Wolves came out blazing in the second period to open a six-goal gap before holding firm to close out the game.
Qatar will play 2017 runners-up and European heavyweights F'fcchse Berlin in the semis.
Barcelona ease past debutants Al-Najma
Champions League powerhouse and defending champions Barca Lassa were the clear favourites ahead of their quarter-final encounter against debutants Al-Najma 37-28. The Catalan team lived up to that status and secured the expected victory, but it was not without some difficult and frustrating moments.
"There were some difficulties because you always have a team in front of you, and they have also prepared for the game and they also do things that put you in difficulty. But at the end it was a victory of course it wasn't pretty, but it takes us through to the semi-finals and I think that's the most important,"said Barca captain Victor Tomas after the match.
Mpontpellier thump Tunisia's Hammamet
Also, playing without the MVP of the 2017/18 Champions League finals, Diego Simonet, as well as long-time captain Michael Guigou and key back Jonas Truchanovicius, Montpellier were not expected to be at the same strength that led them to Europe's international club crown in May. But even without three of their biggest stars, Montpellier would be a difficult opponent for any team and they proved too strong for African debutants Hammamet.
Solid Berlin get the better of Taubate
It was a much smoother ride for F'fcchse Berlin, who played a solid game in which the only players who did not contribute to the final score were the two goalkeepers.
Coach Velimir Petkovic rotated through his bench extensively on the way to the quarter-final win, playing different attacking combinations and trying varied defensive formations.
Petkovic's defensive experiments were limited in comparison with his Brazilian opponents', who changed between 6-0, 5-1 and 4-2. It was a physical game at Taubate's end of the court, while Berlin's sophisticated defence helped them cause numerous turnovers and score easy fast-break goals in the first half in particular. Former Brazilian international goalkeeper Maik Santos could do little to stop F'fcchse building their advantage and was replaced at the end of the first quarter.
The two-time winners cruised to a 10:4 advantage after 15 minutes of play and increased the score line a touch before the half-time break, at which point it was clear the German side had all the momentum behind them.
In the second period Berlin only continued to pull further in front, and their victory was a near certainty when they reached their first 10-goal advantage in the 37th (22:12).
The only blemish on an otherwise almost perfect game for Berlin was an injury to Kevin Struck in the 50th minute, when his side held a 30:21 lead.
