The champions of the 2015 IHF Super Globe, Fuchse Berlin, qualify for the semi-finals after defeating Qatari side Lekhwiya in their quarter-final. 

The second local team in the competition, Al-Sadd, had a more positive experience in their game, avenging the result from their opening match one year ago when Sydney Uni beat them to a place in the semi-finals. The Qatari team won the 2016 edition of their contest by a decisive margin, thereby earning a place in the semi-finals where they will face Berlin. 

Duhail Sports Hall, Monday 5 September

Quarter-final: Fuchse Berlin (GER) vs Lekhwiya (QAT) 27:25 (14:12)

From the outset it was a slow-scoring game, with just four scored in the first eight minutes at which point the game was level at 2:2. After Berlin moved narrowly in front to 3:2 Lekhwiya goalkeeper Youssef Elmalem made an impressive penalty save that temporarily kept the 2015 champions from tightening their hold on the game, instead allowing the Qatari side to take control. 

By the 14th minute Lekhwiya led 7:4, but the ‘Foxes’ came storming back within one only a minute later when Silvio Heinevetter made a save converted into a fast-break goal by Hans Lindberg (6:7). Berlin scored their third consecutive goal to equalise, and at the 20-minute mark the score remained locked at 9:9. 

As the half-time whistle approached there was little to separate the teams, with Berlin narrowly in front in the 27th (12:11), before they pulled ahead by a crucial two goals as the period came to a close. Lindberg had the chance to take the European side further ahead on a fast break with seconds on the clock, but Elmalem made another great save that kept the distance at two at the break. 

Six minutes into the second period Berlin had increased their advantage to four at 19:15, and they stayed in front by a comfortable margin at 22:18 as the clock passed 45 minutes – and there it was clear the victory was decided. The game through the last quarter belonged to Berlin, and though the Qatari team kept pace they could come no closer than the two goals at the final whistle. 

Quarter-final: Al Sadd (QAT) vs Sydney University Handball Club (AUS) 34:18 (18:8)

Al-Sadd were immediately stronger, creating a 4:1 advantage after five minutes as Sydney Uni looked for ideas in attack against the tough 6-0 defence backed by goalkeeper Darko Stanic. When the Qatari team reached a 5:1 advantage Sydney Uni coach Philipp Enders called the first time-out (eighth minute), but his side continued to have trouble finding the back of the net and Al-Sadd were able to accumulate fast-break goals that presented a challenge for Sydney keeper Martin Jomin. 

After 10 minutes Al-Sadd hit a 7:1 lead with another fast break, as Enders rotated through his squad in an effort to find a working combination. The Australian side broke their drought with their second goal thanks to Diego Liorente in the 13th, but at that stage the hosts had reached nine on the score board. 

Despite a suspension for Hany Shaban Ahmed Elsayed, Al-Sadd had little trouble controlling the game, and by the 17th when Enders reached for his time-out card again the home team led 13:3. After the time-out Sydney seemed to find something, and though they missed Thibault Le Mabec on a suspension they recorded a 3:0 run that took the score to 6:13 when the clock showed 20 minutes – but the decisive difference would prove to fight hard to come back from. 

At half-time the Qatari team led 18:8, and after the break Sydney Uni fought hard to close the difference. They managed to decrease it to a steady eight as Adria Cumplido broke through from right wing to put the score at 14:22 in the 40th, but after that Al-Sadd claimed the momentum and did not look back. 

When Sydney goalkeeper Maikel Takken saved a wide-angle wing shot from Oriol Garcia Mila, then another from line player Abdu Abdulaziz Aal Ghamdi, it was a small consolation for the decisive score line against the Australian side (28:15, 48th). The team from Oceania continued to fight through to the final whistle, but the outcome had been decided in the first quarter of the match with Al-Sadd’s 9:1 run through the opening 13 minutes. At the final whistle the hosts recorded a clear win that secured their passage to the semi-finals.