JERUSALEM, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Israel picked up an important home win 30-24 over Kosovo in the coastal city of Tel Aviv on Sunday, improving the chances to qualify for the 2020 Men's EHF European Handball Championships next January.
Israel started strongly, leading 5-2 and 9-3, but Kosovo got back with 4 straight goals, and the home team's advantage at the end of the first half was narrowed to 11-9.
Israel also opened well the second half, ran to 20-14 and increased the lead to 24-17, securing the victory.
Chen Pomeranz, aged 34, scored 6 goals for Israel, Daniel Mosindi (18) added 5 goals in his debut in the national team. Fatlum Ahmeti and Endrit Abdullahi scored 4 goals each for Kosovo.
Israel also erased the 3-goal advantage achieved by the Kosovars in the match between the teams in Kosovo (24-27).
Therefore, in the case of equal points between the two, which play in Group 1 of the qualification phase, Israel will be ranked ahead of Kosovo.
Germany, who beat Poland 29-24 on Sunday, leads Group 1 with 8 points out of 4 games and booked the ticket for the final tournament, which will be hosted by Norway, Sweden and Austria.
With two rounds to go in Group 1, Israel is currently holding second place with 4 points, followed by Poland and Kosovo with 2 points each.
The first two teams in each of the 8 groups will qualify for the finals, as well as the 4 best third-placed teams.
