Al Nasr stun Al Jazira for handball crown

The Al Nasr handball team were crowned league champions following their 30-28 win over Al Jazira in their play-off at the Al Ain indoor sports hall yesterday.

The winners led 16-13 at half-time. The play-off between the two teams was required after they ended their league engagements with 41 points apiece last week.

Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, general secretary of the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare (GAYSW) gave away the winner's shield to the Al Nasr players in the presence of Ahmed Nasser Al Fardan, president of the UAE Handball Federation and Dr. Tariq Al Tayer, chairman of the board of directors of Al Nasr Club, among others.

Al Jazira took the lead on four successive occasions, only to see Al Nasr level the scores and take the lead for the first time 5-4.

Al Nasr kept a strong hold on the match maintaining a two-goal advantage at all times. But Al Zo'abi shone for the team from Abu Dhabi as he levelled scores at 9-9. The Dubai club pulled away again, only to see Al Jazira come back and draw 12-12 and then pull clear with some fine work to lead 16-13 at half-time.

Al Jazira started strongly in the second session with veteran Abdullah Al Hosani and Al Zo'abi combining well to come close at 16-15. From then on, Al Nasr kept a steady pace on the game and did not allow their opponents to come close as dangerman Hussain Faraj kept finding the Al Jazira goal at regular intervals.

Al Jazira made a valiant effort towards the end of the game, only to see the Al Nasr defence standing firm. Hussain Faraj and Khamis Saeed shared three goals in the final minutes for the winners, while Al Zo'abi added two of his own for a losing cause to end the game at 30-28 in favour of the men in blue.

Another Dubai club Al Ahli won the bronze medal after they ended in third place in the league.