The Republic of Korea started the day knowing they would be at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in July if they beat Brazil and if Norway avoided defeat against Chile in the second match of the day.
 
In the end, their South American opponents showed their physical superiority, forming a defensive wall to nullify the Korean attack and keep their qualification pathway open.
 
The result means they go up to two points, equal with their Asian rivals as the teams go into the decisive final day tomorrow of the Tokyo Handball Qualification 2020 – Men's Tournament 1.
 
TOURNAMENT 1
Brazil vs Republic of Korea 30:24 (13:9)
 
Korea managed just nine first half goals as they succumbed to the 2016 Olympic Games hosts’ defence and failed to shut out an impressive attack, led in the first half by Fabio Chiuffa.
 
The Brazilian loss against Norway yesterday was maybe expected, but the manner of it – by 12 goals – was on the minds of Marcus Oliveira’s side as they looked to banish all memories of it in the first 10 minutes of this clash.
 
In fact, even before the start of the game, the adrenaline from the Brazilian squad could be felt around the Verde Complex in Podgorica, Montenegro, and their bench would have an ongoing relationship with the officials throughout the 60 minutes, such was the pure emotion emanating from the South Americans.
 
After three minutes, Korea coach Il Koo Kang looked at his assistants behind his bench knowingly – his side were struggling already, behind by three (1:4) and unable to get a way through to goal.
 
But when you have Jaeyong Park in goal, you can ensure that at least one element of the game can be secured with the goalkeeper making key saves, including one from Chiuffa just before his side drew equal (5:5) and then went in front (6:5, 10 minutes).
 
Just two goals were scored in the next seven minutes and the second one would prove to be the last time Korea would be in front (7:6, 17th minute) in the match as the Brazilian shotstopper Cesar Almeida showed his worth, equalling the total amount of stops he and the now-replaced Rangel da Rosa made against Norway just after the 20th minute (seven).
 
Korea kept in touch, but a red card just before the end of the first half shown to Korean centre back Kyeong Yi Jeong for a foul on Brazil’s left wing Felipe Borges, coming in from the wing, saw him shown a direct red card and Brazil raced to a four-goal lead (12:8) which they kept going into the break (13:9).
 
“When Jeong got the red card there was a crisis in the game for us,” said coach Kang after the game. “We lost because we could not get over this crisis, but our players didn’t give up and did their best in the game.”
 
Park had made nine saves in the first period (41%) but his side could only manage a 38% hit rate down the other end.
 
Coach Oliveira used his four and five-goal lead 10 minutes into the second half to bring on goalkeeper Leonardo Tercariol, recently added to the squad, as well as centre back Pedro Pacheco who had not played in the first period.
 
Eventually, the lead stretched to seven and with 10 minutes remaining, Gustavo Rodrigues put the final nail in the coffin as he linked up with Joao Silva to sink home from distance (24:17), and Korea took a time out but it was clear they knew it was over.
 
Oliveira was able to play some 7vs6 in the last five minutes and afforded himself a smile to the bench three minutes from the end with the score 28:21 in his favour.
 
“We had a great match and we started in with a lot of concentration at the beginning,” said Borges after the game. “We had a big challenge with this match and prepared well as we knew it was important for us to get a ticket for Tokyo.”
 
Photo: Stefan Ivanovic/RSCG