Handball-FC Barcelona edge Veszprem 31-30 to take Handball Club World Cup crown

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FC Barcelona extended their record number of title wins in the IHF Handball Club World Cup to six after they defeated defending champions Veszprem of Hungary 31-30 in a thrilling final in Egypt's New Administrative Capital on Thursday.

The teams were tied at 21-21 after regulation time of a closely-fought final before the Spanish side turned the game around in the last minute of overtime.

They trailed 29-30 with under 60 seconds to play, but scored twice as Aleix Gomez threw into an empty net for the winner with the Veszprem goalkeeper out of position.

The victory means Barcelona win their first Club World Cup title since 2019 despite not qualifying outright for the competition.

They were handed a wildcard entry by the International Handball Federation to "raise the competitive level of the championship and further increase international attention and public interest in the event," the organisation said.

German side SC Magdeburg claimed the bronze medal when they beat home favourites Al Ahly 32-23 in the third-place play-off. REUTERS

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