(MENAFN- Arab Times) DOHA Jan 22 (AFP): 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 15000 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 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
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