South Korean men’s volleyball beats Brazil for first time in 32 years in Korea Cup opener
South Korea’s men’s volleyball team defeated Brazil for the first time in 32 years.
The South Korean team, coached by Brazilian coach Isanaye Ramirez, won the opening match of the 2024 Korea Cup Jecheon International Men’s Volleyball Tournament with a set score of 3-1 (25-23 23-25 25-22 25-21) against Brazil at the Jecheon Gymnasium in Chungcheongbuk-do on Wednesday.
Brazil, ranked No. 7 in the FIVB, sent a young squad to the tournament with an average age of 20.4 years old.
The Brazilian men’s national team is preparing for the Paris Olympics.
While the opponents were not at full strength, it had been 32 years since South Korea’s men’s volleyball team had beaten Brazil in an international tournament since the 1992 World League Seoul (Korea won 3-2).
South Korea had lost 19 times to Brazil since the 1992 World League before this victory in a “small-scale” international tournament.
The result is a boost for the 28th-ranked Korean men’s volleyball team, which is ranked fourth or fifth in Asia.
Each set was close.
In the first set, South Korea reached set point when Heo Soo-bong (Hyundai Capital) hit an open attack during a 23-22 rally, and Shin Seong-jin (OK Financial Group) hit a follow-up attack at 24-23 to win the first set.
After dropping the second set, South Korea fought back from 18-21 down in the third set, using Lim Dong-hyuk (National Armed Forces Athletic Team) as a joker.
A block and attack point by Lim, followed by back-to-back Brazilian errors, gave South Korea a 24-22 lead before Heo Soo-bong ended the set with a quick opener.
The fourth set was another thrilling battle.
At 17-18, Heo Soo-bong blocked an open attack from Atu Chichova, and Shin Shin-jin also intercepted a Brazilian attack to give Korea a 19-18 lead.
With setter Hwang Taek-ui in the lineup, Ramirez made a “double switch” by inserting outside hitter Lim Dong-hyuk in his place and replacing Shin with setter Han Tae-joon (Woori Card), who moved down to the back row.
Lim lived up to Ramirez’s expectations with an open attack at 21-20.
At 22-20, Lee Sang-hyun (Woori Card) blocked Felipe Luque’s open attack to seal the win for Korea.
At 24-21, Brazil’s Artur Butzmiyuk’s attack sailed into the air, sealing the match for Korea.
South Korea will face Japan on Thursday at 2 p.m. in their second match of the tournament.
Japan, which qualified for the Paris Olympics, also fielded a “second-tier player” in Jecheon. 바카라사이트 추천