South America triumphs over Europe as Brazil dispatch a strong Portuguese side with ease in Group C clash.

GROUP C
Portugal vs Brazil 30:35 (11:21)

For the first eight minutes of this clash, the fourth-placed 2018 Men’s U20 EURO side Portugal led Ivan Maziero’s Brazil and the pre-tournament thoughts of the European side being one of the potential winners of Spain 2019 seemed correct.

However, the second-placed team at the 2019 Men’s Junior South and Central American Championship set about taking the game to the Portuguese and drew level in the ninth minute (5:5) and never looked back, leading for the rest of the game – even going 11 goals clear in the second half.

Portuguese coach Nuno Santos had said ahead of the championship that his young side “sometimes have a lack of rationality and can be temperamental,” and that was clear on court as they ended with just a 20% save rate and just 11 goals in the first half.

Santos’ first time out came with just over 10 minutes on the clock and then again under 10 minutes later, but it was to prove fruitless as he saw his side outscored 13:5 in the second quarter of the first period to go into the break down by double figures (21:11).

A spirited effort from his side in the last 10 minutes of the match included a 6:0 run to bring it within three (33:30 to Brazil) with under two minutes remaining and the South Americans suddenly became nervous, but a missed open goal from the Portuguese goalkeeper, a turnover and a save from Brazil shotstopper Lucas Santos nullified any chance of Brazil losing the points and with the ball safely in the goalkeepers’ hand, the emotion spilled over for the Brazilians, who knew they had taken an opening day win.

At the final buzzer both Guilherme Silva (seven goals) and Pedro Pacheco (six) jumped into the crowd to celebrate with their supporters and further happiness was ensured when Joao Santos, complete with five goals, was named the best player of the match.

“We felt amazing emotion, it was sensational,” said centre back Pacheco to IHF.info about winning the game. “We started the game very concentrated and Portugal didn’t start with the same intensity [as us] and I guess that was the difference as we went 10 goals in front.

“We didn’t expect such a lead as Portugal are very good,” he continued. “Before the game I thought it would be very difficult with one or two goals difference – I didn’t expect 10.

“The game against Portugal has already passed for us now, Croatia are next, and we will focus on this as it our next world championship game. 

“The guys I play with are one family, we do everything together and we want to get to the semi-final – that’s our dream.”

Best Player of the Match: Joao Santos (BRA)

Photo: Juan Luis Recio/Spain 2019