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January 24, 2025Brazil delivered yet another shock at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, qualifying for the quarter-finals of the competition and eliminating Sweden, with an otherworldly 27:24 win, inspired by goalkeeper Rangel Da Rosa.
MAIN ROUND, GROUP III
Sweden vs Brazil 24:27 (9:14)
Not even the most pessimistic Sweden fan would have thought that his favourites would be on the brink of elimination after the first 30 minutes of the match against Brazil. Consequently, in the case of a Brazil win in the Unity Arena, another huge bombshell dropped by the South American champions, Norway would have seen their chances of progression disappear.
The first half was nearly identical to the second one played by Brazil in the opener against Norway, when they shut up shop through some excellent Rangel Da Rosa saves and taking most of their chances in attack, where the connection between the back players and line player Edney Oliveira worked out like a charm.
Da Rosa was responsible for a great start from Brazil, stopping two penalties from Niklas Ekberg and Hampus Wanne, boasting a 80% saving efficiency after six minutes and 50 seconds, much like he did against Norway.
And Sweden’s attack was nowhere to be found, missing in action, with Da Rosa finishing the first half with a 50% saving efficiency and nine saves, while the Scandinavian side boasted a meagre 45% efficiency, as nothing worked on both sides of the ball for Michael Apelgren’s side.
After 15 minutes, Sweden had scored only four goals, but were still in the hunt, but a red card conceded by crucial line player Felix Moller derailed their approach both in attack and in defence, with Brazil slowly pulling away. By the 29th minute, with left back Haniel Langaro and line player Edney Oliveira each scoring three goals, Brazil were up ahead six goals, 14:8, leaving a mountain to come back for Sweden.
By the 38th minute, Da Rosa improved his saving efficiency to over 50% and his performance had yet another big effect on the scoreboard, where Brazil had a six-goal lead, 18:12, with Sweden nowhere to be found. However, Apelgren started the second half with Tobias Thulin in the posts, who had previously played only nine mintues and 27 seconds, and that had a fantastic effect, with the shot-stopper blocking three shots, including a penalty, to help Sweden’s cause.
And the attack slowly woke up too, as a 5:0 run cut the gap to a single goal, 18:19, with Brazil lamenting a red card for left back Bryan Monte da Silva, who had previously scored four goals, failing to score for seven minutes and 38 seconds.
But it was the most a washed Sweden could do in a match which will be remembered for the ages. Once again, Brazil took command and scored four goals on the trot, with Sweden again stopped in their tracks, finishing the match with a meagre 50% shooting efficiency, in the most crucial of matches at this edition of the IHF Men’s World Championship.
Sweden pressed on until the end, with a man-to-man defence, but it was too late, as Brazil celebrated a fantastic 27:24 win, their biggest in their history, to progress to the quarter-finals and eliminated the Scandinavian side.
The South American side becomes the fifth team to qualify for the next phase, as in a potential tie on points against Norway or Sweden, they hold the tie-breaker by winning against both Scandinavian sides and have made it to the quarter-finals for the first time in history.
On the other side, Sweden will only have to play for a better finish at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship in their last match against Norway, as both sides are out of contention, with Portugal and Brazil have already progressed to the next phase.
hummel Player of the Match: Rangel Da Rosa (Brazil)