Brazil stay unbeaten and celebrate thirs-round tickets as pool F leaders
Katowice, Poland, September 14, 2014- Brazil continued their winning streak to 13 World Championship consecutive victories after they pulled off 3-1 (25-21, 26-24, 25-19, 25-19) victory over Russia in their last 2014 FIVB World championship Pool F game at Spodek Hall in Katowice, Poland on Sunday.
Brazil improved their pool F win- loss ratio to 7-0 and 9-0 in the overall World Championship, while Russia lost for the first time to drop to 6-1 in Pool F and 8-1 overall.
Brazil's opposite attacker Leandro Vissotto came from the bench to finish as match scorer with 15 crucial point, including the match point, while Dmitriy Muserskiy led Russia with 12 points.
Key points
• Brazil guaranteed a place in the top 6 for the tenth consecutive time at World Championships
• Brazil broke the Russian winning streak of 11 matches which was the best under the name of Russia. They had 29 consecutive wins before 1974 to 1986 by the Soviet Union
• Brazil now had a record of 13 consecutive wins at the World Championship, the old was previously set in 1956-1960 and 1994-1998. The all-time championship record is 29 successive wins by the Soviet Union (1974-1986).
The match began with a fierce spikes from both sides of the court, as they knew the battle was being played for the first place in pool F ranking. Powerful serve by Lucas let Brazil run into 6-3 leading, what Alexey Spiridonov with his kill and Dmitriy Muserskiy with a fine serve tried to decrease. At 6-4, the game turned into serve spectacle that gave Brazil three points in advance at the first technical timeout (8-5). Controlling the game with fine performance at the service line by Sidão and playing well in defence, Brazil extended their leading to seven points (14-7) and forced Andrey Voronkov to call a timeout. At 15-8, Bruno added his spectacular serve and Brazil jumped into eight points of advance (16-8). Hard Spike by Pavel Moroz and a block displayed by Nikolay Apalikov put some hope on Russia’s side, but Brazil stayed with a comfortable advance till the end of the first set and finished it 25-21 after Lucarelli’s kill.
Staying focused, Brazil came back into the game with hard offensive play and they quickly gained a three-points advance (4-1). However, Russia didn't say their last word and after Muserskiy and Moroz’s kills, Brazil’s leading was reduced to one point (6-5). At the first technical timeout, the distance grew to two points again, when Lucarelli didn't give any chance Russia to defend his spike. Blocking Spiridonov’s spike, Brazil kept going and with Lucarelli’s fine serve, they led 16-13 at the second technical timeout. Russia tried to catch up as Alexey Spiridonov played fine second-line spike and reduced Brazil’s advance to one point (17-16). At 21-21, Bernardo Rezende called a timeout in order to calm down his team facing Muserskiy’s aggressive serves. This break didn't stop pumping up Russia, who took 22-21 leading. Despite Pavel Moroz’s injury in taking-breath-away ending, Russia managed to finish the second set 26-24.
Brazil came back in the third set with a hard spike and run 3-0 ahead. Continuing their game with aggressive serves by Lucarelli and well-built defence, Bernardo Rezende’s players extended the leading to four points (9-5). Russia tried to catch up, but at 10-8 Spiridonov made an out-serve and Brazil’s advance was kept. Fine block performed by Sidão and Vissotto helped Brazil with running 15-10 ahead and controlling the game in the second part of the third set. Keeping good pass, Brazil could afford playing technical combinations and extended their advance to six points (21-15). At 23-16, Russia started their chase, but Lucarelli with his fine spike prevented them from catching up and the third set was finished 25-19 after Sergey Savin’s serve error.
At the beginning of the fourth set, the game was played on a point-by-point basis. At 3-2, Muserskiy displayed a short kill, catching up the score. Being 6-4 ahead, Vissotto made a serve error, giving Russia the chance for taking back touch, but shortly after, with his fine right-wing spike, Vissotto pushed Brazil 7-5 ahead. With fine digs, Brazil managed to finished important fierce and increased their leading to four points (11-7). Making mistakes, Russia weren't able to stop Brazil’s samba- single Grankin’s point scored with a fine serve was not enough and they were Brazil, who led 16-11 at the second technical timeout. Finally, Brazil finished the fourth set 25-19.