Al Jazira beat Al Wasl to enter semifinals

Al Shabab, Al Jazira, Al Nasr and Al Ahli have qualified for the semifinals of the handball championship next Friday.

Al Jazira, who finished second in the league competition, beat Al Wasl (32-28) on Friday at the Al Ain indoor sports hall. They took a 13-10 lead before the break.

The two teams played brilliantly in the second half. But Al Jazira goalkeeper Ahmad Al Shibn denied his rivals a number of chances. Al Jazira increased the difference to six goals (20-14) only six minutes into the second half.

Al Wasl came close to drawing level when Al Jazira played for two minutes with only four players following the sending off of Saeed Salim and Khalid Ahmad.

Al Wasl scored three goals (28-30), but Abdullah Al Hosani and his teammate netted two goals to secure a berth for their team in the next round.

In the other matches of the day, league holders Al Shabab eliminated Ittihad Kalba (32/23) in Sharjah. The winners benefited from the return of their three players Mohammed Hassan, Jamal Ali and the custodian Ali Hussain.

Both teams finished the normal time with a 23-23 draw. Extra time was applied during which the blue jerseys scored five goals against four.

Dubai's Al Ahli made their way to the other semifinals beating Al Ain (32-28) at the Al Jazira indoor sports hall.

Al Shabab will take on Al Jazira in the next round, whereas Al Nasr are to meet Al Ahli.