Brazil continues their winning streak and stays unbeaten
Katowice, Poland, September 13, 2014- Brazil confirmed a third round ticket at the 2014 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship with one day still to go, following their straight sets victory (25-19, 25-23, 29-27) over the fighting Canada at Spodek Hall in Katowice, Poland on Saturday.
Brazil improved their win- loss ratio in Pool F to 6-0 and 8-0 in the competition's total, while Canada dropped 4-2.
Lucas led Brazil with 15 points, while Gavin Schmitt was Canada and match's top scorer with 18 points.
• Brazil won the third encounter against Canada in 3 head to head matches before at the World Championship. Brazil won both encounters previous matches in straight sets (1994 and 1998).
• Brazil have won ten of their last 11 matches against Canada in World Cup and World League.
• Brazil now equalise their team record of 12 consecutive wins at the World Championship, previously set in 1956-1960 and 1994-1998. The all-time championship record is 29 successive wins by the Soviet Union (1974-1986).
• Brazil's last loss came on 2 October 2010, 3-0 against Bulgaria in the second round.
• They have won 31 of their last 34 World Championships matches, only losing to France, Cuba and Bulgaria.
• Brazil stopped Canada winning streak of six matches in a row which is their best ever at the World Championship. The Previous best: four in 1974.
• This is Canada's second loss at the 2014 World Championship so far, the first was their opener, 3-0 against Russia.
Opening the first set with a series of serve errors, both teams needed more time to gain focus and come into the game. They were Canada who did at first, running 4-1 leading after John Gordon Perrin fine dink. When Canada’s advance increased to four points (5-1), Bernardo Rezende decided to call a timeout. This break helped Brazil and as Wallace and Lucas blocked Nicolas Hoag’s spike, Brazil made first step in catching up (5-2). Shortly after that, Wallace displayed two fine counter-attacks and Brazil take touch (6-5). However, a kill by Nicholas Hoag put his team 8-6 at the first technical timeout. Efficient Wallace’s block broke Canada’s leading, changing the scores to 10-9. From that moment, the game continued on a point-by-point basis with Hoag and Lucarelli’s spike performance and serve error series from both sides of the court. Making a use from opponent’s mistakes, Brazil took 19-16 leading and then finished it 25-19 after Sidão’s middle-kill.
After a fierce at the beginning of the second set, Lucas and Murilo’s block helped Brazil to run 2-1 ahead. The game was balanced and they were mainly mistakes that decided the leading in the very first minutes. At 4-4, Nicholas Hoag blocked Brazil’s dink and put his team 5-3 ahead. With hard spikes from both sides, the scores changed quickly and non team could gain a comfortable leading. After efficient block and point scored with a fine serve by Wallace, Brazil jumped 14-13 ahead, but Nicholas Hoag’s kill followed by fine block, made the score even again. Lucarelli’s serve put his team into 16-15 leading at the second technical timeout. As Brazil lost their advance (21-20) because of aggressive serves displayed by Canada, Rezende called a timeout. With Raphael on the court, Brazil managed to run 23-21 and win the second set 25-23 due to Vissotto’s kill.
The beginning of the third set was fulfilled with a tough and balanced game. Gavin Schmitt with his kill put Canada 3-2 ahead, but after a spike finished by Murilo, Brazil caught up at 3-3, but because of Brazil’s mistakes, they were Canada who led 8-6 at the first technical timeout. However, Wallace’s hard spike followed by an ace displayed by Bruno helped Brazil with catching up (10-10). Brazil caught up at again 17-17 and tried to finish the match in straight sets. After a thrilling ending and astonishing defences, the third set was finished 29-27 for the Brazilians.