Players of China celebrate during the Round Robin match between China and Brazil at the 2019 FIVB Women's World Cup in Sapporo, Japan, Sept. 22, 2019. (Xinhua/He Canling)
SAPPORO, Japan, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China survived a five-set thriller against Brazil at the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup here on Sunday to extend its unbeaten record to six matches after a two-day break.
Zhu Ting and Yuan Xinyue tied for a game-high 26 points for China's 25-23, 23-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-9 victory in two hours and five minutes. Gabriela Braga Guimaraes, with 20 points, was the top scorer for a Brazil side that rested captain Fabiana Claudino.
"I think unity and concentration are the reasons we were able to win," captain Zhu told Xinhua after the match.
China kept a slight advantage over Brazil in the opening minutes with strong performance from Yuan and Yan Ni, and forced the two-time Olympic champion to a timeout after establishing a 13-8 lead. Drussyla Costa then spearheaded Brazil's attacks while China was troubled by consecutive errors as the South American side closed the gap 19-20. Coach Lang Ping called a timeout as Brazil saved two set points to trail by 24-23 and Yuan finally converted China's third chance to claim the set 25-23.
The second set saw both sides showcase their attacking prowess with Rio 2016 champions Zhang Changning and Zhu launching spikes while Gabi and Lorenne Geraldo Texieira opening fire for Brazil. The game was tied multiple times before Sheilla Castro De Paula Blassioli registered one spike and one block to seize the set point 24-22. Brazil gave one chance away on error but Gabi's spike powered the two-time Olympic champion to level the game 1-1.
China sent on young spiker Li Yingying and put Zhang as middle blocker in the third set in which the tenacious defense of the Nations League runners-up made it hard for the Chinese attackers, especially Zhu. Yuan carried the flag for China instead, but a more balanced Brazil initiated a 6-1 run after 14-19 down to recover from early disadvantage and tied the game 20-20. The two sides traded points before 23-year-old Lorenne wrapped up the set 25-22 for Brazil with two aces in a row.
"It's a good chance for Li Yingying to learn in such a tough match and as a young player, she did well in reception even though being targeted by the opponent," coach Lang commented on the 19-year-old.
The defending champion regained form in the fourth set as Zhu and Yuan took turns to smash Brazil's defense and granted China a five-point lead into the second technical timeout 16-11. China pressed further ahead and grabbed the set point 24-18 after a service error by Lorenne and eventually tied the match 2-2 in the fourth attempt.
The four-time World Cup winner carried on the momentum into the decider where Yuan and Gong Xiangyu combined for five points to put China 8-5 ahead. Mara Ferreira Leao had five points in vain to see China clinch the victory 15-9 after Ana Beatriz Correa's spike was called out.
After losing its first two sets in the tournament, China will face Nations League champion United States on Monday while Brazil will play against Dominican Republic in an all-South American clash.
"Their head coach was with me a long long time ago, and he started to be a coach with my daughters in my house, so he knows everything about me," Brazil coach Hose Roberto Guimaraes said of his Dominica Republic counterpart Marcos Kwiek, adding that the match tomorrow will be difficult.
