Russians rally late to stun Brazil
Source: Agencies |
August 13, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
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WORLD Cup-holder Russia came from two sets down to beat world champion Brazil 3-2 in a thrilling Olympic men's volleyball final yesterday.
Russia looked down and out at 19-25, 20-25 and 19-22 down in the third, but with the title in sight, Brazil wilted.
The South Americans failed to complete an Olympic double a day after their women beat the United States 3-1 to retain their title.
It was Brazil's second defeat in a row in an Olympic final. Italy beat Bulgaria to claim the bronze medal.
What had steadily become a procession for the Brazilians turned into one of the greatest comebacks in Olympic sport.
Brazil was three points from victory when leading 22-19 in the third and it twice had match-point at 24-23 and 25-24 but it couldn't convert them.
Led by 2.18-meter giant spiker Dmitriy Muserskiy, Russia battled its way to a 29-27 success in the third and then pulled out a 22-15 lead in the fourth before taking that 25-22.
Brazil's game was riddled with mistakes at this point and it kept multiplying as Dante served into the net and Wallace sent a spike long as the Russians took the decisive fifth set 15-9.
The win gave the Russians four gold medals in volleyball, most of any nation. But the last time Russia was atop the podium was at the 1980 Moscow Games, when the former Soviet Union won gold on home soil.
Russia looked down and out at 19-25, 20-25 and 19-22 down in the third, but with the title in sight, Brazil wilted.
The South Americans failed to complete an Olympic double a day after their women beat the United States 3-1 to retain their title.
It was Brazil's second defeat in a row in an Olympic final. Italy beat Bulgaria to claim the bronze medal.
What had steadily become a procession for the Brazilians turned into one of the greatest comebacks in Olympic sport.
Brazil was three points from victory when leading 22-19 in the third and it twice had match-point at 24-23 and 25-24 but it couldn't convert them.
Led by 2.18-meter giant spiker Dmitriy Muserskiy, Russia battled its way to a 29-27 success in the third and then pulled out a 22-15 lead in the fourth before taking that 25-22.
Brazil's game was riddled with mistakes at this point and it kept multiplying as Dante served into the net and Wallace sent a spike long as the Russians took the decisive fifth set 15-9.
The win gave the Russians four gold medals in volleyball, most of any nation. But the last time Russia was atop the podium was at the 1980 Moscow Games, when the former Soviet Union won gold on home soil.
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