What a life?! Yesterday criticised, and even disparaged by many, today praised and true sports heroes. The Serbian volleyball players defeated the mighty Brazil with 3:0 (25:22, 25:20, 25:22), in the last match of Group H, with which they qualified for the round of 16 of the 21st World Championship, which is being played in the Philippines.
The match played in the hall in Pasay City, in “Brazilian time”, from 10 am local time, will be retold for a long time. It was one of the best games of the Serbian national team in the last few years, and it was at the very moment, when it was the most difficult and most important, after a heavy defeat against the Czech Republic and an encouraging triumph in the match with the Chinese.
Excellent in all segments of the game, George Krecu’s players were a match for the great Brazil, whose players and coaches said after the match that the problem was not their bad game, but that Serbia played great. This is the reason for great optimism before the continuation of the Championship and the round of 16 match, which is scheduled for Tuesday, September 23rd.
From the start of the match, the enormous energy and desire of the Serbian volleyball players to outplay the favoured rival was noticeable, which brought a real seesaw of results.
Brazil took the lead 8:6, but after 11:10, Serbia tied three points on Kujundžić’s serves and then a real battle began on the court. Brazil reached a tie at 17:17, a little later 21:21, but in the end, Luburić and Perić with great attacks brought an important set and a 1:0 lead.
Already after the first few points in the second set, it was noticeable that the initial advantage did not carry Serbia, but only gave them additional self-confidence. Until 7:7, the game was played point for point, and then with a 5:1 series, the Eagles gained a significant lead – 12:8.
Brazil approached at minus 3, Serbia returned the lead of five points, so with a great game in defence and the execution of difficult attacks, in the end it was a comfortable 20:15. To make it not easy, the reserve setter of the “selesao” Mateuš, whose serves brought a worrying 20:18, and then Luburić again took matters into his own hands and with an ace serve answered Rezende’s boys, for a four-point advantage – 22:18. The end was again spiced up by the corrector of the Serbian national team and Pavle Perić, for the final 25:20 (2:0).
Not even a five-minute break stopped Krecu’s boys. Without fear of victory, without respect for the great rival, Jovović led Serbia to victory. It was 7:3 for our boys, but Brazil had an answer, when they came within one point – 11:10.
However, with maximum concentration and timely timeouts from the Romanian expert, Serbia kept a cool head and with a great contribution from the entire team came to victory. The last jerk of the Brazilians, happened at the score of 20:18, after Darlan’s attack, to show greater calmness in the uncertain finale the boys in red jerseys. The final 25:22 was brought by Luburić, which was his 19th point in this match, with a masterful attack execution of 60% (27-18).
Pavle Perić added 15 points, Miran Kujundžić 10, and Aleksandar Stefanović seven. The Serbian game was brilliantly conducted by Nikola Jovović, who, like Nedeljković, won three points. Special praise should also be given to libero Stefan Negić, whose huge contribution was in this great victory.
Serbia goes to the round of 16, most likely from the first position, and the fate of Brazil is now in the hands of the Czech national team. If the Czechs beat China with a score of 3:0, then they will also go to the second round, and Brazil goes home. Otherwise, if China takes a set from the Czechs, Serbia and Brazil go into the fight for medals.
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Source: SportKlub; Photo: FIVB