Brazil U23
The match was close from the beginning, with Brazil slightly ahead on attacking points, but making more mistakes than Argentina in the first set. Captain Juan Ignacio Finoli set the ball well and wing spiker Agustin Ramonda scored five points as Argentina won the set 21-19.
Argentina got ahead at the start of the second set as Brazil continued to make errors. Behind 12-7 at the technical timeout, Brazil had made more errors (7) than they had in the entire first set (6). Middle blocker Ivan Postemsky contributed defensive points while wing spiker Ezequiel Palacios provided the attacking points as Argentina closed out the second set 21-16.
Brazil cut out the errors early in the third set with Matheus Cunda providing strong attacks to put them 12-11 up at the technical timeout. The set remained close until 20-20 when another Cunda spike helped Brazil to win the set and reduce the match deficit.
In the fourth set, a combination of captain Lucarelli’s dangerous serving and opposite Rafael Araujo’s net blocking and spiking gave Brazil a lead which they didn’t lose to take the set 21-17 and send the match into a tie-break.
Brazil got ahead early in the decider, but Argentina managed to block and spike their way back into it through Postemsky and Palacios. Argentina saved three match points before Brazil claimed the winning point for a 19-17 win.
In a feast of attacking volleyball, Rafael top scored for Brazil with 21 points, a total matched by opposite Pablo Kukartsev for Argentina.
To read more news from this competition click on World Championship U23 M.
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