Things in Pool F are going totally differently from Pool E. Brazil and Russia almost claimed places in Third Round. Match Germany-Canada will be the key for 3rd team.
Finland – Canada 0-3 (25-27 25-27 19-25) Duration: 1:32′
Leaders: Olli Kunnari 12, Gavin Schmitt 21
Finland: Esko (1), Kunnari (12), Ma.Oivanen (11), Sivula (9), Siltala (6), Lehtonen (3), Kerminen (L) and Mi.Oivanen (4), Ojansivu (1), Tervaportti, Shumov
Canada: Sanders (1), Perrin (11), Simac (7), Schmitt (21), Hoag (9), Duff (8), Lewis (L) and Verhoeff, Soonias (2), Schneider, Winters
At the beginning of the match, Finland’s team were keeping close to the Canadians, so that the scoreboard showed a tied result. Thanks to precise Matti Oivanen’s kills, the Finns even managed to take a one-point lead, however the North American side’s blocks and spikes gave them an 8-6 advantage at the first technical time-out. The situation changed following the break, when Canada made some simple errors and the focused Scandinavians were spiking effectively. They scored three points in a row so that they led 13-10. Still, Canada did not want to give up so easily. With fantastic Nicholas Hoag’s kills and John Gordon Perrin’s ace, they caught up the opponents. In the decisive moment, both the teams were highly mobilized, so that the result was 24-24. The Finns were receiving every ball with an astonishing devotion, while Canadian player Gavin Schmitt was producing promising kills. He also gave his team a victory 27-25 in the first set.
In the next part, Schmitt was producing again powerful spikes that were the reason of the Canadians 8-6 lead. Head coach Tuomas Sammelvuo’s team were looking for their chance in fantastic double blocks by the likes of Antti Siltala and Matti Oivanen and in Urpo Sivula’s kills. They took a lead 11-10 following Olli Kunnari’s ace. Thanks to Sivula’s spike, Finland scored another point ahead the Canadians, so that they got off the court for the second technical time-out with 16-14 lead. The world No. 26 ranked side did not manage to keep the margin as head coach Glenn Hoag’s time-outs clearly motivated his team. Canada made use of the third set-point and won 27-25, as Schmitt effectively spiked.
Canada quickly jumped out to lead 5-2 in the third set as Schmitt was still unstoppable for Finnish defence. The Finns tried to stop the Canadians spikes with Sivula, Kunnari and Jukka Lehtonen’s triple block, however for the first technical break, the world No. 15 ranked team had 8-4 lead. With every single move, Schmitt was oppressing the Scandinavians as they had no idea how to stop his spectacular spikes. Finland’s team tried to surprise the opponents with the kills by the likes of Mikko Oivanen but with the result 16-9 it was sure that nothing can stop Canada. They gained points in every element of the game, so that completely relaxed Perrin spiked for the result 25-19 in the last set.
Brazil: Bruno (3), Lucarelli (19), Lucas (9), Wallace (9, Murilo (2), Sidao (8), Felipe Silva (L), Mario Junior (L) and Visotto (1), Raphael (1), Felipe Fonteles (3), Eder (1)
China: R.M.Li (1), W.J.Zhong (14), J.T.Xu (4), Y.Zhi (6), D.S.Ji (2), C.L.Liang, Q.Ren (L), F.W.Kong (L) and J.J.Cui (2), X.Geng (6), Z.C.Kou
The first set began with a fine block displayed by Jingtao Xu and Runming Li. Shortly after that, after efficient Brazil’s spike and ace by Wallace, Brazil run 2-1 ahead. Brazil extended their leading to 5-2 adding Sidão’s kill and block by Bruno and Sidão. After the first technical timeout, Bruno managed to serve right into the opponent’s field and helped his team to lead 9-4. After Felipe Fonteles’ ace and Wallace’s kill, Brazil gained nine points in advance and went comfortably throughout the first set, finishing it 25-14, after Lucarelli’s fine spike.
Beginning the game on a point-by-point basis (4-4), both teams displayed fine spikes and counter-attacks spectacle, but after an efficient block by Zhi Yuan and Jingtao Xu, there were China, who gained two points of leading (6-4). However, Brazil managed to catch up and run 8-7 ahead at the first technical timeout. After Bruno, Brazil jumped 13-10 ahead with Lucas and Murilo’s triple block, and forced China’s coach to call a timeout. With a fine left-wing spikes by Weijun Zhong and Jianjun Cui, China tried to take back touch and came at 18-17, forcing Bernardo Rezende to call a timeout for the first time during this match. However, Brazil stayed focused and their leading was kept till the end of the second set as they finished it 25-23 with Lucarelli’s kill.
Building 3-1 leading at the beginning of the third set, Brazil added some points with Wallace’s spikes and triple block which ended both-side fierce. Canarinhos led 8-4 at the first technical timeout. With Lucarelli and Eder’s performance, Brazil claimed their leading, being eight points ahead at the second technical timeout (16-8) and continued till the set finished 25-18 after Visotto’s kill.
Germany: Kampa (1), Schwarz (10), Böhme (12), Grozer (19), Kaliberda (17), Günthör (5), Tille (L) and Schöps (1), Westpahl (4), Broshog
Bulgaria: Zhekov (2), Aleksiev (6), Gotsev (6), Sokolov (6), Penchev (7), Todorov (10), Salparov (L) and Skrimov (11), Milushev (13), Gradinarov, Bozhilov
As both teams knew the importance of the game for their chances in the tournament, Germany and Bulgaria put all their efforts from the very beginning of the first set. Playing point by point (3-3), they presented very balanced and tough game with a counter-attacks spectacle displayed by György Grozer and Tsvetan Sokolov. Denys Kaliberda’s kills helped his team to gain two points of leading (7-5) and Germany run 8-5 ahead at the first technical timeout thanks to Svetoslav Gotsev’s out spike. Keeping good passing and Grozer playing aggressive serves turned out to be Germany’s key to stay ahead (16-8). Despite Todor Aleksiev doing his best, Bulgaria weren’t able to soothe their game and stop focused Germany. Efficient block displayed by Max Günthör and György Grozer at 22-14 forced Bulgaria’s coach to call a timeout, but it didn’t change the scores. Marcus Böhme finished the first set 25-16 with a powerful kill.
Coming back focused into the game, Bulgaria started to play aggressive serves. However Germany led 8-7 at the first technical timeout. Germany’s leading increased to 11-8, but Bulgaria didn’t surrender-Sokolov’s kill helped Bulgaria with regaining touch. At 21-14, still controlling the game, Germany’s Dirk Westpahl and Marcus Böhme blocked Danail Milushev’s spike and Germany’s leading increased to nine points (23-14). It was György Grozer who finished the first set 25-15, displaying an ace.
Germany managed to take 3-1 leading at the beginning of the third set. However, Bulgaria improved their attack efficiency and run 5-3 ahead. This leading didn’t last long and after Westphal’s aggressive serves, followed by Max Günthör’s kill, Germany led 8-6 at the first technical timeout. Shortly after, two points scored by Danail Milushev let Bulgaria to take touch (8-8). Milushev and Gradinarov did their best to help Bulgaria with staying in the game, but their spikes were not enough for Germany’s answers with Kaliberda, Westphal and Grozer’s kills. At 17-16, Todor Skrimov scored point with his serve and put some hope in Bulgaria’s side of the court. Germany’s leading increased again to 20-18 and at 24-23, Grozer was stopped and Bulgaria had their first set ball, what Todor Skrimov used, spiking hard and letting Bulgaria win 25-23.
Germany stayed focused and with Grozer fine right-wing spike as they extended the leading to three points (6-3). After the first technical timeout, when Germany led 8-4, they kept good passing and were able to control the game. Efficient block displayed by Max Günthör and Andrey Zhekov added nineteenth point to Germany’s score and let them comfortably control the game till the end of the fourth set, which they finished 25-17.
Cuba: Macias, Jimenez (12), Fiel (3), Cepeda (6), Uriarte (16), Mesa (6), Gutierrez (L) and Romero, Calvo (1), Alfonso (1), Chapman, Osoria (3)
Russia: Grankin (2), Ilinykh (17), Muserskiy (16), Pavlov (16), Spiridonov (3), Apalikov (2), Ermakov (L) and Moroz (1), Savin (5), Volvich (6), Makarov
The Cubans obviously surprised Russia at the beginning of the match, as thanks to Rolando Cepeda and Osmany Uriarte’s kills they managed to take 8-6 lead. However, the Olympic champions quickly changed the result to 14-9 with a few confident moves. Dmitriy Muserskiy was gaining points by a single block, Nikolay Apalikov spiked effectively and Nikolay Pavlov produced some aces. With a higher and higher loss to the Europeans, head coach Rodolfo Sanchez used all the time-outs for his team before the second technical break. That did not help a lot the Caribbeans as they had problems with receiving powerful Russian serves and spikes. With the result 16-10, Cuba’s team were making more and more simple errors, so that Russia could easily control the game. Following Muserskiy’s kill, the Russians won the first set 25-18.
Again, Cuba started the set a bit better than the world No. 2 ranked side. With a great devotion and perfect concentration, they led 4-2. Fantastic triple block was shown by Leandro Macias, Isbel Mesa and Uriarte. That did not put Russian vigilance to sleep as with Dmitriy Ilinykh and Alexey Spiridonov’s kills they were leading 8-7. Unexpectedly, the Cubans caught up the result and managed to take a three point lead. Promising Javier Jimenez Scull’s spikes caused lots of Russian problems. Head coach Andrey Voronkov was forced to ask for two time-outs for his team, although they still could not stop Cuban moves. The Europeans put a lot of effort to change the result but the Caribbeans, supported by Polish fans, had their own way. With Uriarte’s kill, Cuba gained a victory 25-23.
The Russians were clearly motivated to quickly win the next set. With spectacular kills by the likes of Muserskiy they gained 8-4 lead. Best Cuban scorer, Uriarte was scoring vital points for his team as his spikes were very precise. However, concentrated and irritated Russia’s side were hard to stop. They extended their leading to five points before the second technical time-out. Sanchez’s team were making lots of errors in spikes as they were off target. Meanwhile, Artem Volvich and his team were producing very effective kills. The set end up with the result 25-15 for Russia as Felix Chapman made a service mistake.
Last set, Russia’s team started calmly but highly focused. They did not jump out to lead but they controlled the game throughout the whole time. Volvich’s single block and Pavlov’s promising kill gave them 8-6 lead. The world No. 7 ranked side could not find a way to finish their moves as the Russians were perfectly blocking and effectively receiving the balls. With superb Ilinykh’s kills, the Cubans were helpless. Following the second technical time-out, the Europeans were systematically extending their lead. With Pavel Moroz’s ace, the Russians gained a victory 25-19 in the last set.
Standings:
RankTeamWin/LossSets RatioPoints RatioPoints1.Brazil5/015.0001.242152.Russia5/05.0001.267143.Germany4/12.4001.142124.Canada4/11.7141.076105.Bulgaria1/40.6660.90856.Finland1/40.2850.86227.Cuba0/50.4000.85828.China0/50.0000.7880
Photo, infographics and pictures: FIVB
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