Ukraine achieved one of the most significant victories in its history, after defeating world giant Brazil with 3:1 (29:27, 22:25, 25:22, 25:21) in a match from the second week of the Men's Volleyball Nations League, played in Ljubljana (Slovenia).
The Ukrainians demonstrated exceptional resilience in the key moments of the match and deservedly reached success against the third-ranked team in the world. The first set proved particularly important, in which Ukraine dramatically snatched a 29:27 win, and then maintained its high level of play in attack and on block.
The victory brought Ukraine 13.98 points for the world ranking, while Brazil lost the same amount.
The two teams played an extremely even first set, in which Ukraine showed stronger nerves and won 29:27. The Brazilians reacted in the second set and equalized after a 25:22 win.
In the third part, the Ukrainian team once again took the initiative and regained the lead after a 25:22 win. In the fourth set, the South Americans failed to find a solution against the Ukrainian block and conceded 21:25, which finalized the 3:1 score.
Team statistics
| Statistic | Ukraine | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 53 | 53 |
| Block | 10 | 5 |
| Ace | 6 | 7 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 32 | 30 |
| Total points | 101 | 95 |
Ukraine and Brazil finished with an equal number of attack points (53:53), but the difference came from blocks. The Ukrainians recorded 10 points on block against only 5 for their opponent. Additionally, they took better advantage of the Brazilians' errors and finished the match with six more points in total.
Game statistics
| Statistic | Ukraine | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
| Digs | 58 | 66 |
| Reception | 75 | 80 |
| Organized attacks | 106 | 115 |
Brazil had an advantage in digs, reception, and setting, which indicates better organization in individual phases of the game. Nevertheless, the Ukrainians were more effective in converting key points and better capitalized on their opportunities.
Scorers
| Ukraine | Points | Brazil | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plotnytskyi | 19 | Sousa | 26 |
| Tupchii | 17 | Adriano | 12 |
Sousa was the top scorer in the match with 26 points, but his strong performance could not prevent Brazil's defeat. For Ukraine, Plotnytskyi was the leader with 19 points, and Tupchii added another 17 points for the prestigious success over one of the tournament favorites.
The victory is further proof of the growth of the Ukrainian national team, which continues to impress against leading forces in world volleyball and solidify its positions in the Volleyball Nations League.
Ukraine is fifth in the VNL with 3 wins and 10 points, while Brazil is third with 4 wins from the home tournament in the capital Brazil and 11 points. There were no changes in the world rankings - Brazil is 4th and Ukraine is 15th.
Photo:volleyballworld.com
