MATCH INFO

Kagoshima, Japan, November 22, 2011 - Pre-tournament favorites Brazil took on the third-ranked Italian squad on day three of the FIVB Men's World Cup hoping to remain undefeated after wins against Egypt and the USA. But they would be their own worst enemy on this day with 22 service errors, allowing a 2-1 lead escape them as Italy came back to win a thriller 3-2 (25-16, 20-25, 18-25, 25-21, 22-20).

Italy's Michel Lasko produced a monster match notching 27 points with seven blocks. He was supported by the hard serving Ivan Zaytsev with 16 points including four aces. For Brazil, Sidnei dos Santos Jr (aka Sidão) led with 17 points with Leandro Vissotto Neves and the captain Gilberto Godoy Filho (Giba) following with 16 and 14 points, respectively.

Italy started hot against Brazil with Dragan Travica posting a great block on Vissotto to set the tone. From there, Zaytsev would power them on a 9-1 run to go ahead 16-7 with three consecutive aces and a fourth serve that gave Brazil trouble so Lasko had an easy spike. Brazil couldn’t get any attacking rhythm going, and Lasko came again with a spike to clinch the set 25-16, his seventh point in the period.

Brazil held a slim 8-6 lead early in the second, though it would have been far more if they didn’t have four service errors going into the TTO. Vissotto attacked well in the set with two smashes back to back giving Brazil a 15-12 lead. After errant spikes from Zaytsev and Cristian Savani, Theo Lopes came with consecutive stuff blocks to extend the lead to 20-15. The teams were clearly fired up for this one as the referee had to warn the sides to stay under control. But Brazil had total control in this frame, taking it 25-20.

The Brazilians tried to bring that momentum into the third set, but again a service error interrupted their rhythm and allowed Italy to counter with four straight points to go ahead 8-6. Brazil rebounded by taking eight of the next 10 points until Marlon Muraguti Yared and Endres Murilo both threw ugly serves at the net to let Italy stay within three at 15-12. Luckily Giba stepped up to deliver two attacks to jump out 20-15 for Brazil and Murilo brought two more plus an ace to close 25-18.

The Italians’ serving made a reappearance in the fourth with Zaytsev dropping his fourth ace, while Luigi Mastrangelo and Travica each brought one to go ahead 12-8. Lasko continued scoring well for Italy, putting up strong defense also posting a stuff block on Sidão (his fifth) to jump ahead 15-12. Brazil kept close, but this time their service errors proved costly (from Lucas and Marlon). A stray spike from Murilo handed Italy the set 25-21, tied at two sets a piece.

The tie-break saw both teams competing hard for each point with Fei getting a yellow card for trying to argue one too hard. The match went all the way down to the wire, with Italy warding off five Brazil match points, until a Vissotto net serve game them match point allowing Travica to stun Brazil with with an ace (his third of the contest) to take the set 22-20, and the match 3-2. The fifth set had seven lead changes, including four after the score reached 15-all.