Qatar 2015: Czech Republic Win President's Cup

Doha, The last European team to win the President's Cup were Spain at Croatia 2009. Six years later the unexpected all-European final between Czech Republic and Belarus was played in Doha at the Duhail Handball Sports Hall in Doha. Handball superstars Filip Jicha (Czech Republic) and Siarhei Rutenka (Belarus) went head-to-head to win the cup and finish the tournament in 17th position. From the very beginning of the match quality and motivation were on a much higher level compared to the other President's Cup games which took place throughout the pas two days in Duhail. Aggressive defence, stunning saves and extremely powerful shots the audience inside were witness to all of these. The Czechs took an early 6:3 lead in the 8th minute, but the Rutenka brothers - Siarhei and Dzianis - scored four in a row to give their Belarus side the advantage. It did not last for long as Jakub Hrstka equalised just two minutes later. From that point on no team led by more than two until the end of the first half which finished 14:13 in favour of the Czech Republic. The second half seemed like a replay of the first and it was the Czech's who took the early lead again but could not resist Belarus until the end of the match. Siarhei Rutenka scored his 10th goal of the evening (23:23) in the 47th minute but it was pure drama at its best later on as Ondrej Zdrahala scored one minute before the end to make it 28:28, but the Czech's managed to score once again, but unfortunately for them just after the final buzzer, as the goal line technology showed it was no goal and it was a tied match to make it a second penalty drama of the day. Despite Belarus goalkeeper Vitali Charapenka making the first save, experienced Petr Stochl saved shots of from Dzianis Rutenka and Kiryl Kniazeu to enable his teammate Filip Jicha to lift the President's Cup trophy, presented by Dr. Hassan Moustafa, President of the IHF and Vice President of the Qatar 2015 Organising Committee Ahmed Mohammed Al Shaabi. (QNA)