MATCH INFO

Kumamoto, Japan, November 25, 2011 - After a key win over a tough Russian squad on Thursday in second round 2011 FIVB Men's World Cup play, Brazil beat China on Friday, 3-2 (23-25, 25-10, 25-18, 19-25, 15-8), on a day they rested many of their key players — perhaps too many — as China stole a point by pushing them to five.

Leading Brazil in scoring on the day was Murilo Endres with 19 points, supported by João Paulo Bravo Pereira with 14. For the Chinese team, it was again Chen Ping leading the way with with 22. Zhong Weijun pitched in with 16 in the loss. Brazil held a 7-3 margin in aces and limited their errors to 21 for the match. They also converted 53.4 percent of their attacks while China managed just a 43.6 percent.

With many regular starters on the bench for Brazil, China managed to get the early jump on the South Americans going up 12-9 on Li Runming’s second block in the set. A hard drive from Zhang Chen pushed China ahead 18-14, and although Gustavo Endres (joining his younger brother Murilo as a starter in this match) played well later to rally back within one, China would steal the first set on Chen’s eighth point in the set, 25-23.

Bravo helped Brazil bounce back in the second frame, putting up four points early as his side went up 8-2. Chen finally got going again for China though, scoring five to help his team shorten the lead to 13-8, including a wonderful tip over top of three aggressive Brazilian blockers. But Brazil’s star Murilo kept them rolling late with an ace to extend the lead, one of his six points in the set. Bruno pitched in two more for six in the second as well, as Brazil closed a dominant period 25-10.

China didn’t make things easy for Brazil in the third, putting Murilo on the defensive having to run down a ball to the back, which Theo would eventually smash for a score. He was attacking well early, dropping another spike to edge his side ahead 10-8. They pulled ahead with more great play from Theo, and eventually a gorgeous Gustavo tip into a Chinese campfire made it 22-17. Marlon Muraguti Yared would come in to take the set with his second ace of the match, 25-18.

The teams went point-for-point to start the fourth arriving tied at 10-10. But an ace by Zhang Chen appeared to inspire the China, as they blocked well up front, with three stuffs to extend to 17-12. Three spikes from Chen Ping and a pair from Zhang late helped put China take the fourth 25-19, shocking Brazil by ensuring they’d take a at least a point on the day.

Murilo vented his frustration in the tiebreaker with an incredible drive to go ahead three. That seemed to wake Brazil from their slumber as Wallace de Souza followed with an ace, and then Lucas Saatkamp (a starter who had been resting) pitched in a hard spike to make it 7-2. From there strong Brazil would have little trouble, eventually taking the set (15-8) and the match (3-2) on a block from Lucas.