After a disappointing last-gap loss against Slovenia in the first match, Brazil bounced back and sealed their maiden win in the Olympic Qualification Tournament #1, 25:24, against Bahrain, a crucial win which extends their hopes for a Paris 2024 Olympic Games ticket. The Asian side is the only team without a point and their chances are now slimmer than ever.

Olympic Qualification Tournament #1
Bahrain vs Brazil 24:25 (14:11)

Both Bahrain and Brazil conceded losses in the first day of the Olympic Qualification Tournament #1 in Granollers, Spain, but while the Asian side was totally outplayed by Spain, Brazil drew the short straw, with a 26:27 loss against Slovenia in the dying seconds of the match.

How was that going to affect Brazil was the big question prior of the match, especially as Bahrain had more time to rest than their South American counterparts, with Brazil notoriously being a team which largely fluctuated according to their own morale.

And Bahrain did push from the start, feeling that there is a pressure which can be added on Brazil’s shoulders, especially with some key players inserted into the squad adding more depth and experience from the loss against Spain.

Not only did Brazil never take the lead in the first half, they looked disjointed and without a proper gameplan, as the loss against Slovenia really took the wind out of their sails. Bahrain goalkeeper Mohamed Hussain Abdullah Ali had an excellent outing, with a 33% saving efficiency, while backs Mohamed Ahmed and Husain Alsayyad combined for eight goals in the first half, to usher the Asian side in front.

While coach Marcus Tata Oliveira constantly changed his squad, altering his line-up one time too many, Brazil did not find the proper rhythm and were down three goals by the 20th minute, as their shooting efficiency fell under 50%, never a good sign in such a well-balanced match.

But with goalkeeper Mateus Cristian Martins Nascimento making some key one-on-one saves, Bahrain had a 14:11 lead at the break, fast cut to a single goal, thanks to a 2:0 run to start the second half by Brazil, with goals from backs Gustavo Rodrigues and Leonardo Dutra.

Yet when Brazil started using a more aggressive 4-2 defence, this is when things started to change and the difference to be more compressed. However, three one-on-one situations in key moments, when Brazil could have tied the score, went missing, as Mohamed Hussain Abdullah Ali was immense between Bahrain’s posts, to keep his team ahead.

As a team with a penchant for close matches, Brazil were down one goal, 20:21, with 10 minutes to go, as Bahrain started to falter more and more. Nevertheless, Ahmed and Alsayyad still delivered, being the fulcrum of their team’s attack, but could not prevent a 4:1 Brazil run, which helped the South American side take their first lead of the match, 22:21, with six minutes to go.

Eventually, through their experience and strong defence, Brazil stood their ground, stopped Bahrain and clinched a 25:24 win, with the decisive goal being scored on a fast break by wing Rudolph Hackbarth, with 30 seconds to go.

Brazil are now on two points, before they face Spain in the last match, while Bahrain are on zero points and their chances are now only virtual as they face Slovenia in the last match in Granollers.

hummel Player of the Match: Bryan Hugo Monte da Silva (Brazil)