Boy’s tournament: First semi final:

France – Egypt 21:22 (11:12)

 

If a team loses only one match in a tournament it’s very bitter, when this match is the semi final. But it’s even bitterer when you lose this match only with one goal difference. This fate occurred to the French boys in the semi of the YOG in Singapore. Being favorite against Egypt the Europeans surprisingly lost - and now the African Champion is playing for Gold on Wednesday. Egypt celebrated this victory like they had won the Gold medal already. The Northern Africans had the better start, but heard the French breath steadily in their necks until the final whistle. The intermediate result of 9:6 for Egypt was the biggest gap in the first half, before France again equalized at the 10:10. But the Europeans couldn’t take the lead in the whole 60 minutes, as the Egyptian defense stood really strong – and was the reason for another three goals lead in the beginning of the second half. Six minutes before the end Egypt seemed to be on the winner’s way as they led 19:16, but France didn’t give up and came closer to 19:20 again. By scoring the 22^nd goal for Egypt Alley Mohsen decided the game 90 seconds before the end, as France scored only once later-on– and the 21:22 was the final result in a highly emotional and tough clash of two teams with incredible strong defenses which nearly neutralized themselves, but only nearly, as Egypt was this little piece better. Tomorrow’s opponents of both teams will be decided in the second semi Korea – Brazil.