Cuba's third loss at the men's handball World Cup leaves it with no chance of advancing

HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 21 (ACN) The Cuban men's handball team lost on Monday for the third time in three games and was left without options to advance in the World Championship of the discipline in a match that ended 28-38 against Cape Verde, rival for the last place in Group G, which was held at the Zagreb Arena, Croatia.

Despite conceding fewer goals than in the previous matches, the performance of the Cubans did not counteract the 38 goals scored in 54 shots by the opponent team that will play the round of the best 24 in the world championship.

A publication of the International Handball Federation highlights that the difference in quality was evident from the beginning, when Cape Verde went on a 3-0 run, opening a sufficient lead for Cuban coach Jover Hernandez to call an early timeout (6-3, minute 7).

The disciples of Hernandez maintained a discreet success in total shots, conceding in 23 attempts, more than half of shots without reward (55%), while Cape Verde scored 38 goals with 54 shots on goal, for a 70 percent success rate.

In addition to this defeat for the Cuban team, continental champions of North America and the Caribbean, they lost 19-41 to the Slovenians and 19-40 to the Icelanders, both teams competing for the first place in section G.

Far from the 24 qualified teams (the first three in each group advanced), the Cubans will start the consolation round this Wednesday, when they face Bahrain, bottom of the H bracket.