Bangkok, Thailand, August 6, 2021 – In-form Brazil stopped Korea’s remarkable run after brushing off the Asian side in comfortable straight sets to go up against old foes USA in highly-anticipated final showdown of the Tokyo 2020 volleyball tournament at Ariake Arena.
Korea, current world No.11, had never advanced to the final of the Olympic Games. Their best result in the quadrennial sports extravaganza dated back to 1976 in the Montreal Games in Canada, where they returned with bronze medal following an impressive 3-1 win against Hungary. However, the Koreans have already competed in the Olympic semifinals for four times consisting of the 1972 Munich Games, 1976 Montreal Games, 2012 London Games and the Tokyo 2020.
Against the world’s renowned team like Brazil, world No.2 and former consecutive two-time Olympic champions, Korea fielded the similar lineup which stunned European powerhouses Turkey 3-2 in the quarterfinals including super star Kim Yeon Koung, hard-attacking Park Jeongah and Kim Heejin.
Brazil were playing without their key player Tandara Caixeta, who was suspended for potential violation of anti-doping rules and sent home from Tokyo, but remained offensively strong with the likes of highly-experienced Fernanda Rodrigues, Gabriela Braga Guimaraes and Rosamaria Montibeller, who joined the starting lineup in place of Tandara.
Brazil, which had already beaten the Koreans twice this year comprising the 3-0 win in the round-robin preliminaries of the FIVB Volleyball Nations League and another triumph with the same margin in the preliminary Pool A clash in the Tokyo 2020, made a confident start to the match. Rosamaria and Fernanda hit powerfully to score back-to-back points for the Brazil’s initial 13-8 lead. Kim Heejin and Park Jeongah led the Koreans with some crucial points from their aggressive attacks to reduce the gap to 12-17 and then 14-19. Still, the going gets tough for the Koreans as Brazil stormed on to win the easy set 25-16.
One set down, Korea regained their composure in the second set, but still battled hard to narrowly trail the much stronger Brazilians 8-10. From then on, the Koreans found it too difficult to get past the tough rivals’ solid blocks led by Carolina Da Silva Ana, Fernanda and Gabriela. Brazil allowed the less-ranked rivals few points from Kim Heejin and Park Jeongah’s spectacular attacks to wrap up the set with the same margin 25-16.
The third set turned out to be the similar script as the momentum remained with the Brazilians as they led with 6-point clear at 15-9. Despite a brave fight, Korea were never able to close the gap as the Brazilians came through to take the set 25-16, match and a final berth.
Brazil fared much better in this match, scoring 40 attacking points against the Koreans’ 32. They also blocked solidly to win 15 points against Korea’s 3. The Brazilians produced 4 aces, while the Koreans had only 2. In terms of the opponent error, Brazil also played better to bag 16 points, with Korea claiming only 11.
Fernanda Rodrigues chipped in with 17 points including 13 attacks and 3 blocks for Brazil, while Gabriela Braga Guimaraes and Rosamaria Montibeller added 12 and 10 points respectively. Kim Yeon Koung and Park Jeongah scored 10 points apiece on Korea’s losing efforts.
Korea will take on world champions Serbia in the third-place playoff on Sunday, while Brazil advanced to their third Olympic final, where they are due to take on world No.1 USA, the team they had beaten in their first two finals in the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 Olympic Games in London, later on the same day.
However, the USA, reigning and consecutive three-time VNL champions, proved a tough nut to crack as they had already beaten Brazil twice this year in the VNL including a dramatic 3-1 win in the final showdown.
Related links of AVC
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation
AVC Twitter: click: https://twitter.com/avcvolley
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation
AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation