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Disaster for Swedish favorites as Brazil book sensational quarterfinal-ticket

Heartbreak for the Swedish favorites against Brazil
Heartbreak for the Swedish favorites against BrazilVEGARD GRŘTT/BILDBYRĹN/Shutterst / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Sweden will miss out on the quarterfinals in the Handball World Cup after Brazil stunned the Scandinavians with an emphatic 27-24 win on Friday night.

The excellent goalkeeper Rangel Da Rosa got the unsung South Americans off to a brilliant start topping two penalties from Niklas Ekberg and Hampus Wanne, boasting a 80% saving efficiency after six minutes and 50 seconds, much like he did against Norway.

The Scandinavians really struggled to get their gameplan going with a meagre 45% goalscoring efficiency and already after 15 minutes Brazil started to pull away against a Swedish side who had only scored four goals and at the break Brazil sensationally led 14-9 leaving Sweden with a mountain to climb in the final 30 minutes.

Swedish goalkeeper Tobias Thulin, who had previously played only nine mintues and 27 seconds, began second half brightly and cut the deficit to 18-19 while Brazil were left to lament a red card for left back Bryan Monte da Silva, and failed to score for seven minutes and 38 seconds.

However, gradually Brazil took command again and scored four goals on the trot against the Swedes who became increasingly nervous with the clock winding down.

Sweden desperately chased the game to the end but it was too little too late against Brazil who could celebrate their first ticket to the quarterfinals of the Handball World Cup ever. 

Sweden along with Norway are out of contention, while Portugal and Brazil already have progressed to the next phase.