In the Pasay City arena in the Philippines, Portugal caused a sensation in the first stage of the Men's Volleyball World Championship. Coach Nuno Pinto's team defeated Cuba 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 19-25, 19-25) and recorded a historic victory in Group D.
Match development
The Portuguese started confidently but lost the first set 20:25. In the second, however, they found their rhythm - a stable reception and effective attack led to 25:22 and equalization of the score.
The third set was decisive for psychological superiority - at 9:6 Portugal took control, and after a block against Cuban star Simon, the difference became 16:10. In the end, the Europeans maintained the advantage and closed at 25:19.
The fourth set finally broke Cuba. The Portuguese led 18:12, 21:16 and 23:17 after a strong block. The match ended at 25:19 after an attack from zone 4 by Nuno Marques (#9), with which Portugal finalized the final score of 3:1.
Match statistics
| Team | Attack | Block | Serve | Opponent's errors | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuba | 48 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 85 |
| Portugal | 48 | 11 | 5 | 31 | 95 |
The two teams finished equal in attack, but Portugal prevailed decisively on the block (11 against 7) and forced Cuba to make more mistakes. These elements tipped the scales in the decisive moments.
Individual performances
| Cuba | Points | Portugal | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yant (#23) | 19 | N. Marquez (#9) | 19 |
| Masso (#1) | 12 | Tsvetanin (#4) | 14 |
Nuno Marquez became a hero for Portugal with 19 points and the key final attack. Tsvetanin also made a huge contribution with 14 points. In the Cuban team, leaders Yant and Masso scored a total of 31 points but remained isolated in attack without sufficient support.
Portugal's victory over Cuba is the first real surprise of the championship. After this victory, they climbed 5 places in the world ranking, reaching 24th position. Cuba dropped one place to 11th.
The Europeans showed maturity, character and stability in the block, which neutralized the powerful attack of the boys from the Caribbean. With this success, Portugal is now in an excellent position to continue forward in the tournament.
photos:volleyballworld.com
