Atletico Madrid win IHF Super Globe

Atletico Madrid win IHF Super Globe 

Big celebrations in Doha; but also tragic moments in the confetti rain in Doha, Qatar: Just as in 2007 and 2010, Atletico Madrid have won the IHF Super Globe, the world championship for club teams. 

The Spaniards took revenge for the final lost in 2011 against THW Kiel and beat the German defending Super Globe champions by 28:23 after a brilliant defensive performance. 

They took revenge for the 2011 IHF Super Globe defeat and also the VELUX EHF Champions League final in May 2012. 

And one person wrote history: Coach Talant Dushebajew already took his fourth Super Globe trophy after three wins with Atletico and the initial victory with Teaka Santander in 1997 as a player. 

Kiel missed their second trophy with a weak attacking performance after the break, scoring only ten goals in the second half.

Atletico goalkeeper and team captain Jose Javier Hombrados was the key to success – and was awarded best goalkeeper of the tournament. Especially after the break the 40 year old veteran – combined with the defence – stood like a wall and caused confusion for the THW attackers by his overall 15 saves. 

But the Madrid victory was overshadowed by tragic news: In the night before the final the father of Atletico player Kiril Lazarov had passed away. Despite this, Lazarov played the final and scored four goals. 

“After we had received the tragic news of the death of Kiril Lazarov’s father, it was hard and difficult for us to play this final, but we managed to beat the current VELUX EHF FINAL4 champions, which makes me proud,” coach Dushebajev said. 

And goalkeeper Hombrados added: “We dedicate this victory, this trophy to the father of Kiril.”

Talking after the match, Kiel trainer, Alfred Gislason said, “Madrid deserved the victory as they were the better team.” 

It was the first defeat for THW in all competitions since the 23:24 against Montpellier in the VELUX EHF Champions League in October 2011. 

Qatari team, Al-Sadd, strengthened by six players and coach Patrice Canayer from VELUX EHF Champions League participant Montpellier, took the bronze place thanks to a 32:26 against Zamalek – and they had the most valuable player of the tournament in their squad: Slovenian right wing Dragan Gajic, who ranked second in the top scorer list with 40 goals below Amine Bannour from Mudhar club (Saudi-Arabia). 

Result summary:

Final: Atletico Madrid (ESP) – THW Kiel (GER) 28:23 (13:13)
Bronze final: Al-Sadd (QAT) – Al-Zamalek (EGY) 32:26 (16:11)
Semi-final 1: Al-Sadd (QAT) – Atletico Madrid (ESP) 32:33 (19:18)
Semi-final 2: THW Kiel (GER) – Zamalek (EGY) 34:24 (16:12)

Placement Round 5-8: 

Metodista Sao Bernardo(BRA) – Mudhar (EGY) 34:31 (21:15)
El-Jaish (QAT) – University of Sydney (AUS) 33:25 (18:9)
Placement match 5/6: Metodista Sao Bernardo (BRA) – El-Jaish (QAT) 23:31 (13:15)
Placement match 7/8: Mudhar (KSA) – Sydney University (AUS) 34:21 (17:11)

Results of the Preliminary Round:

Group A: Zamalek – Metodista 33:24 (12:14), Madrid – El-Jaish 28:23 (11:13), Metodista – Madrid 27:34 (16:16), El-Jaish – Zamalek 24:27 (12:12), Madrid – Zamalek 29:25 (12:15), El-Jaish – Metodista 30:27 (15:13)

Group B:  Mudhar – Sydney 32:27 (15:12), Kiel – Al-Sadd 29:26 (9:16), Sydney – Kiel 13:40 (7:21), Al-Sadd – Mudhar 34:31 (15:17), Kiel – Mudhar 42:31 (20:14), Al-Sadd – Sydney 34:25 (17:10)