Brazil defeated the United States in straight sets to cruise
into the men's volleyball final of the Athens Olympics Games on
Friday.
Brazil scored 25-16, 25-17 and 25-23 in the semifinal, a
fantastic showdown with the South Americans having lost only one
game in the tournament and the Americans are ranked number two in
the world.
"This is exactly what we wanted, to win and to qualify for the
final," said Mauricio Lima, who failed to score but came from the
bench in the second set to make a series of successful digs for
Brazil, "Now the only thing that remains is to win the gold
medal."
The two powers traded leads in the opener 6-6 before Brazil
launched a 5-0 run and extended to 22-16. Through Andre
Nascimento's spike, Brazil ran off three straight points to win the
set with 25-15.
Brazil enjoyed a balanced offense from Dante Guimaraes Amaral
who scored 15 points, Filho Gilberto Godoy (14), as well as Gustavo
Endres and Nascimento who added 11 apiece.
The Brazilians, ranked eighth at the Sydney Olympics, never
letany chance slip away from their hands as they took the early
lead again at 14-9 in the second set and pushed away to make the
game 2-1 by 25-17.
"We served and blocked better, and this was the key to our
success," said Amaral.
The Americans, who displayed an incredible turnaround on
Thursday to eliminate host Greece 3-2 from two sets down, wanted to
replay the scenario in the third set.
Riley Salmon's kill helped the Americans lead for the first time
14-13, the only lead for the United States.
Brazil answered back with another 5-0 run to control the set
18-14 and never looked back before Dante Guimaraes Amaral sealed
the one-hour-17-minute match with his last killing score.
None of the Americans could scored more than ten as Brook
Billings led the United States with nine points.
Friday's semi-final has set up a wonderful final on Sunday
between Brazil and Italy.
"We have to focus on the final because playing against Italy
isalways very hard," said Bernardo Rezende, head coach of
Brazil.
Earlier, Italy, the Sydney Olympic silver medallist, triumphed
over Russia in another thrilling three-set semifinal 25-16, 25-17
and 25-16.
"The Italians once said that we are the best team in the
world.Now we have to prove it in the match against them," said
Gustavo.
"May God help us step on the top of the podium."
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(Xinhua News Agency? August 28, 2004)?