Brazil extend winning streak to seal best start since 2013

Brazil have won Group G of the 25th IHF Women’s World Championship after three convincing performances, finishing the group on a high, with a thorough 33:19 win against continental rivals Paraguay.    

GROUP G
Brazil vs Paraguay 33:19 (20:7)

Brazil had already secured first place in Group G after their first two wins against Japan and Croatia, but were going for their third in a row, which would seal their best start at the IHF Women’s World Championship since 2013, when they won the title.

On the other hand, Paraguay were already heading to the President’s Cup, but a battle against their South American rivals was always going to pump them up, despite conceding losses by an average of 23.3 goals in the past two decades.

It was a no-contest from the start, as Brazil imposed their will against their rivals, taking a strong 8:1 lead after only 10 minutes to all but assure their third win in a row at Spain 2021.

After right wing Adriana Cardoso won the hummel Player of the Match award in the last game against Japan, another right wing topped the charts for Brazil, with Jessica Quintino scoring five goals in the first half, two less than the entire Paraguayan squad.

With goalkeeper Barbara Arenhart posting a 50% saving efficiency, stopping seven shots in the first half, it was no surprise that Brazil had an overwhelming 20:7 lead at the break, being on their way to improve the head-to-head against Paraguay to nine wins in nine competitive matches.

Paraguay’s motivation was to avoid a large defeat at the biggest of stages and it worked out wonders in the second half, when their goalkeeper, Fatima Ocampos, had a superb outing.

Ocampos, the hummel Player of the Match, stopped 15 shots, for a 42% efficiency, as Brazil’s coach, Cristiano Silva, handed meaningful minutes to all his players, resting some of his key players for the main round games, that will start in two days’ time.

Eventually, Brazil secured a 33:19 win, but Paraguay really stayed close in the second half, won by Brazil by only one goal, 13:12, with the Paraguay side sitting really close until the last minutes, when their opponents duly delivered on fast breaks.

With six points in three matches, Brazil win the group and will start Group IV of the main round in Torrevieja with four points, a big advantage before facing hosts Spain, Austria and Argentina.

On the other hand, Paraguay will head to Llíria, where they will play in Group II of the President’s Cup against either Slovakia, Tunisia and either the People Republic of China.

hummel Player of the Match: Fatima Ocampos, Paraguay

Photo: RFEBM / Á. Bermejo