Paris Saint-Germain Handball recorded an impressive four-goal 29-25 victory against the 2016 VELUX EHF Champions League champions Vive Tauron Kielce to earn the first spot in the 2016 IHF Super Globe final. The French side thereby took revenge on Kielce for the result of their 2016 Champions League semi-final meeting in May, when Kielce knocked PSG out of contention for the title and went on to claim the trophy.
The champions of the 2015 IHF Super Globe, Fuchse Berlin, defeated Al Sadd by a decisive six goals to secure their ticket to the final against PSG.
The ‘Foxes’ had seemingly little trouble with the victory, taking the lead after the first 13 minutes and holding it to the final whistle. Berlin won 32-26.
In the first quarter, the score progressed one for one before Berlin claimed the advantage and never looked back.
At the 10-minute mark the score stood in narrow favour of the hosts at 4-3, but it was not long before the 2015 Super Globe champions claimed the lead. Midway through the half Berlin were in front 8-6 when Al Sadd’s Mustafa Ali A Alkrad received a direct red card, and the two-goal distance persisted when the European team’s coach Erlingur Richardsson called his first time-out in the 19th (9-7 to Berlin).
Despite some great saves from goalkeeper Darko Stanic, Al Sadd could not come any closer than two goals as the clock ticked on, and the European team were able to create the first three-goal lead of the match as the last five minutes of the half approached and Dragan Vukovic broke through to put the score at 12-9. Berlin pulled further in front just inside the last five minutes of the period thanks to Bjarki Elisson (13-9), and retained a three-goal advantage at the break.
Five minutes into the second period Berlin stayed ahead by four at 17-13, and as the clock ticked on it became increasingly clear that Al Sadd would not be able to slow the European side’s roll. The difference was not enormous but it remained steady, and with 15 minutes remaining the scoreboard showed 23-20 for Berlin.
At the 50-minute mark with the score at 27-24, Sadd brought in their young second keeper Rasheed Yusuff, but when he could not make an impact on the European team’s shooting he returned to the bench and Stanic took his place (29-25, 55th minute).
It was clear coach Chouaib Kafi was not ready to give up their chance at a place in the final, as he called a time-out immediately after the change, but it had the opposite effect he was hoping for. Berlin returned to the court with no mercy, turning the four-goal difference into a six-goal advantage by the final whistle, booking their place in the final alongside PSG.
Earlier in the day, the 60 minutes between PSG and Kielce proceeded just as expected, with a close contest headlined by strong goalkeeping from PSG’s Thierry Omeyer (46.7 percent save rate), and Kielce’s Filip Ivic (35.3 percent).
“It wasn’t a perfect start to the game – it was a tough game for us. Great opponent Kielce, the European champion, they are a great team and it was a great fight,” said PSG’s Nikola Karabatic following the match. “I think we played very good in defence – that was the key. The goal was to make fast-break goals, and to play more calm in offence.”

Lekhwiya down Sydney University
Lekhwiya emerged victors over Sydney University Handball Club and will face Esperance Sportive de Tunis in the 5/6 place playoff.
While ES Tunis beat Brazil’s Handebol Taubate 32-20, Lekhwiya won their match 29-17.
Though Sydney University put on a stronger performance than in the quarter-final stage against Al Sadd, they could not compete on level footing with Lekhwiya. (IHF.info)