MATCH INFO

Almirante Brown, Argentina, August 19, 2011 – Six-time champions Brazil debuted in the 2011 FIVB Boy’s Youth World Championship with a close (25-19. 25-14, 23-25, 20-25, 15-9) win over a resilient Korea in front of a full house at Polideportivo of Almirante Brown on Friday morning.

Tracisio Guinter topped Brazil with 23 points including six blocks while Joao Ferreira and Flavio Gualberto added 19 and 11 respectively. Myung-Geun Song was the best scorer of the defeated side with 19 points followed by Jun-Young Kim and Gyeong-Bok Na with 17 and 13.

Brazil held the advantage in the blocking category (13-5) and also dominated the serving ace department (10-6) with Captain Thiago Veloso scoring with 5 aces.

Brazil jumped out to a 7-3 advantage. One point before the first technical time out Korean coach called for a time out forced by the great Brazilian’s block led by Gualberto Flavio (3 points). The South American team reached the second technical time out without difficulties, keeping the same difference with good overall team work. With the score 20-13, Korea called for another time out and reacted with four consecutives points but Brazil kept the margin and closed the set 25-19.

The Brazilian side roared ahead 5-1 in the early stages of the second set forcing Korea’s time-out, and had a five-point cushion at the first pause (8-3). Korea made some changes of players but Brazil still kept the distance at the second stop thanks to their great counter attack. The South American continued pounding spikes and widened the gap finishing 25-14.

To make things different, Korea started the third one with a slight advantage (8-6). Brazil then evened the score and both sides engaged in a close battle until Brazil took a two-point lead at 14-12. The team of Percy Oncken reached the second technical time out winning by only one point.
Korea improved its game relying on their typical spike combination and led 18-17 and the teams battled point by point. Myung-Geun Song had to spike three consecutive times to defeat the Brazilian block giving the Asian side the set 25-23.

Korea played brilliant defense all the way in the fourth set to equalize the score at 2-all. The fourth set began pretty balanced. Compared to the first two sets, it is a completely different match with a stronger Korean team.  As in the third set, they reached the first technical time out by one point (8-7). After the Asian side got a three-point cushion (14-11), Brazil’s head coach asked for a time out. Korea continued digging very well and scored with counter-attacks for a 16-12 lead. They continued playing almost perfect and increased to 20-14 before prevailing 25-20 with Song playing at a very high level.

Brazil stormed into a 6-1 lead and was in front 8-4 when teams changed sides. Brazil had renovated energy and the blocking was again working properly to stop the opponent’s attack. The match was over 15-9 thanks to a missed attack of Korea.