Serbia
Serbia tied the number of wins and losses in the 2019 VNL at 4-4 (10 points) as they defeated Pool 9 hosts Portugal by a 3-2 (21-25, 25-15, 25-22, 30-32, 15-9) on Week 3 (Day 2), in Gondomar.
This was sixth successive Serbia’s match that has gone to a tie-break! By this, the team from the Balkans got involved in the 10th VNL five-setter in total, setting a new tournament record (Brazil remained at nine tie-breaks played in VNL).
Božidar Vučićević poured in 28 points for Serbia, while Petar Krsmanović was amazing in the block (7)! Marco Ferreira made 20 points for Portugal, who are at 2-6 (7 points).
Brazil-vs-China
Brazil surpassed China without problems (3-0) in Pool 9 to record their seventh win (one defeat) in the 2019 VNL.
The drought of Asian side in matches against Brazil at major world level tournaments increased to 41 years (China’s last win so far was in the 1978 FIVB World Championship). At the same time, China suffered a fourth consecutive defeat in the 2019 VNL and are last-placed in the charts with a 1-7 record (4 points).
Brazil’s head coach Renana Dal Zotto gave the rest to three starters today: Leal, Wallace, and Lucas. Douglas Souza scored game-high 17 points. For China, Liu Libin noted 9.
2019 FIVB Men’s Volleyball Nations League, Week 3 – Day 2:
Pool 9 (Gondomar, Portugal):
Brazil – China 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-22)
Portugal – Serbia 2-3 (25-21, 15-25, 22-25, 32-30, 9-15)
Pool 10 (Varna, Bulgaria):
Australia – Italy 1-3 (18-25, 32-30, 18-25, 15-25)
Bulgaria – Japan 2-3 (25-22, 19-25, 25-16, 19-25, 19-21)
Pool 11 (Urmia, Iran):
Russia – Canada 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-20, 25-23)
Iran – Poland 3-2 (25-20, 21-25, 18-25, 25-17, 15-8)
Pool 12 (Cannes, France):
USA – Germany 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-19, 25-20)
France – Argentina 1-3 (18-25, 17-25, 25-19, 20-25)
