MATCH INFO
Japan surprises defending champion Brazil in the close of the first day
Japanese Ryota Denda spikes in front of Brazilian captain Otavio Pinto
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 1 – Japan was responsible for a major upset on the first day of the FIVB Volleyball Men's Junior World Championship as the Asians shocked defending champions and hosts Brazil at Maracanazinho Gymnasium, in Rio de Janeiro.
The Japanese won 3-2 (21-25, 25-19, 25-20, 22-25 and 18-16) in the team's first match in the Pool A of the tournament.
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The Japanese won 3-2 (21-25, 25-19, 25-20, 22-25 and 18-16) in the team's first match in the Pool A of the tournament.
With the win, the Japanese are second placed in the group, with two points, after the United States who have scored three. Brazil collected one point with the five set defeat, while Bulgaria has no points.
Japanese opposite Takashi Dekita led all scorers, with 27 points, five more than Brazilian outside hitter Ricardo Lucarelli.
Brazil scored the first three points of the match and kept ahead during the whole first set. The host team had a 16-12 advantage in the second technical timeout, but it was reduced to 22-20 in the end of the frame. In the last point, outside hitter Lucas Loh spiked to seal the win: 25-21.
The beginning of the second set saw several turnarounds. After Japan scoring 4-2, Brazil took the lead at 8-6 with opposite Luan Webber. Japanese giant Yamato Fushimi put his team ahead again with a huge block to make it 9-8. Brazil did not give up and recovered the lead with Bernardo Reitz blocking Fushimi to score 18-17. With three straight points, the Japanese controlled the end of the set 20-18 before clinching it 25-19 after a block from Fushimi.
The Japanese kept the good rhythm in the start of the third frame and led the scoreboard until the ninth point. Brazil reacted, but Japan escaped again after a mistake from Matheus Cunda: 15-12. The Asians managed to sustain the lead and, taking advantage of Brazilian bad moment, scored 21-15, when head coach Leonardo Carvalho asked for a timeout. The stop did not work and Japan won 25-20 after a wrong spike of Brazilian opposite Rafael Martins.
The good Japanese performance and the bad Brazilian showing continued in the beginning of the fourth set as the Asian side scored the first five points of the frame. Brazil tied at 13-all with captain Otavio Pinto stopping Taiki Tsuruda. With a serve point of Fushimi, Japan went to the technical timeout with 16-14. With bravery, Brazil tied again in 18-18 after a spike of Ricardo Lucarelli, who then gave the hosts a 22-20 lead a few moments later. In the end, Fushimi served out to close the set 25-22 to Brazil.
Two points in a row from opposite Takashi Dekita put Japan ahead 5-1 in the final set. Brazil fought and tied the match 12-all with Otavio blocking. Using their defensive skills, the Japanese managed to win the set with a block point: 18-16.
Brazil will continue the search for their first win at home this Tuesday in Maracanazinho's against the unbeaten the United States. Japan will fight for its second win against Bulgaria.
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