01/21/2024 – 16:10
The year started well for the Brazilian men's handball team. On Saturday night (20), in the heart of Buenos Aires, the team defeated Argentina 28-26 and confirmed the title of the South-Central American Tournament in the sport.
The match – valid for the last of the five rounds of the competition – was not a final in theory, but, in practice, it decided the champion, as only the two teams could walk away with the trophy. The triumph had the flavor of revenge for the Brazilians, who had lost the final at the Pan American Games in Santiago, in November last year, precisely to the Argentines.
Brazil arrived at the match needing only a draw to become champion, as they had won the first four duels (against Uruguay, Paraguay, Costa Rica and Chile). Argentina only had to win. In the first stage, the Argentines took the lead and went into the break leading 14-13.
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However, the second stage brought a Brazilian reaction, which opened up a three-goal lead and ended up securing the victory by 28 to 26. The title – the country's second consecutive in the competition – was guaranteed.
Since the victory against Chile, Brazil had already secured one of its goals, which was to qualify for the 2025 World Cup (the top three placed teams received this right). The title brought more confidence towards another goal, in the near future: the Pre-Olympics.
As they were defeated in the Pan final, the team saw Argentina guarantee the continent's early place at the Paris Games. As a result, they will have to participate, between March 14th and 17th, in the tournament that will give them a second chance to qualify for the Olympics. There is still no defined location or opponents.
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