Russia
In the first set Russia started to control the situation on the court and the score was 8-3. Cuban head coach took a time-out when the score was 13-7 but this couldn’t help them. In the end of the set Russia easily won 25-17.
In the second set Russia got an advantage from the beginning 8-3 and kept it to the second technical time-out 16-9. Despite of two time-outs of Juan Carlos Gala Rodriguez and his substitutions the second set ended with beautiful attack of Anna Matienko 25-14.
In the third set Cuba started to lead the score for the first time into the match 8-5 at the first technical time-out and soon 13-9. Yuriy Marichev took his first time-out, but this did not bring any fruits, Cuba gained 8 point margin and won the third set 16-25.
In the fourth set Cuba started very well but their mistakes allow Russian team to lead 16-12, 19-4 and Juan Carlos Gala Rodriguez took his second technical timeout. Russia finally won the match.
The best scorer for Russia was Nataliya Goncharova (20). The best scorer for Cuba was Melissa Teresa Vargas Abreu (18).
For more photos from this match, see the gallery below.
See the profiles of the national teams of Russia and Cuba.
For more news from this competition, click on World Grand Prix 2013.
