Qatar concentrated on containing the dangerous Abdullah S Al Bahli during the opening points, leaving the middle of the net exposed with only one defender guarding it. This tactic posed problems for the hosts as they also struggled to set up their attacks, allowing Saudi Arabia to clinch the crucial points for the first set.
In set two, Saudi Arabia's service game was not up to the standard expected, and their defence were on the receiving end of some spectacular Qatari spiking. Al Bahli was substituted as Qatar kept pounding spikes in his direction to score vital points and level the match.
The Saudi's continued to struggle with their service game in the third set, although a commanding block, followed by a powerful spike, from Al Bahli, gave his team much needed points when they were needed to win the set.
Qatari blockers stepped up their game in the fourth set as they tried to stay in the game and overpower Saudi Arabia's misfiring offence - a tactic they achieved successfully to once again level the match and take the contest into a nail biting deciding set.
But it was Saudi Arabia who charged ahead early on with consecutive successful spikes, and the hosts' defence buckled under the pressure exerted upon them. Two point winning attacks from Saudi top scorer Esmael A Al Khaibary late on helped his team to complete their victory for the bronze.
"Winning against Qatar makes my Saudi players happy, it was a great match,"Â said Saudi Arabia coach Svircev Radoslav after the match. "It was not an easy match for us, but I promised my wife and my children that I will get them a bronze medal.
"This win also goes to all my players' families in Saudi Arabia. We also promised the federation that we will get the medal. I congratulate all my players for their good teamwork.
"Everyone played superbly; it wasn't only Al Khaibary who played well, but all of my players. Even having two injured players we managed to win this match. I always believed in my players and they always believed in me, that's why we got this victory."Â
Meanwhile, Qatar coach Juan Diaz said, "I have a very young team. The team played very well against Saudi Arabia, but Saudi Arabia has more experience than my team. We need more time to gain this kind of experience.
"We need to work, work, work, and work. We need to have more training for our next competitions, that's what I need to do to prepare them in the future."Â
15th Asian Games, Doha 2006
Posted December 16th, 2006 by COBA
