29-Nov, start time: 12:30, end time: 13:46 - Attendance: 5,870

USA	0	20	21	23	-	-	64
BRA	3	25	25	25	-	-	75

Match Description:

Brazilian victory settles two Olympic tickets
Brazil and Italy are the first teams to qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics after both teams are assured of a top three finish at the 2003 Men's World Cup following Brazil's straight sets win over USA in the Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday.

The world champions' comprehensive victory, their 10th of the tournament, maintained their unbeaten record and with set ratio in their favour, only Japan now stands between them and their first ever World Cup title on Sunday. Brazil's first set win actually ensured their Olympic spot but the 3-0 victory extinguished USA's hopes of claiming a top three spot on set ratio, therefore guaranteeing Italy a spot in the medals.

Unlike Friday's match against Italy, USA made a better start in this match, staying in touch with the 2003 World League title holders in the first set and actually took the lead at 14-13. But Brazil soon bounced back in front at 19-17, surely inspired by the animated antics of coach Bernardo Rezende on the sideline before USA spiked out to close the set to ensure Brazil's Olympic ticket.

The lead seesawed again in the second set with Nalbert proving to be his clinical best for Brazil and Brook Billings taking on the majority of offensive duties for USA but it was Gustavo who pulled a superb sequence of back court defence followed by a power serve, which gave the South Americans an 11-7 lead. With Anderson and MIP Giovane also adding weight to the Brazilian attack the favourites maintained their lead until USA closed again to 22-21 thanks to some excellent serving from Clayton Stanley. However the last play belonged to Brazil and it was fitting that Gustavo blocked to finish off the set.

The start of the third set belonged to USA as they took a 4-1 lead but three serves from Gustavo, including an ace tied the set up at 9-9. Before long Brazil's block was working again and it was left for Anderson to spike and seal their Olympic tickets.

Comments:

REZENDE, Bernardo (BRA Head Coach)
" Some of the players belong the European team so we hadn't enough time for preparation. I was anxious about it but each of the players did what they had to do. That was good. Now, we are happy to qualify for the Athens Olympic Games but we should not be satisfied. Each player has own points of improvement so we have to improve more for the Olympics. If we stop improving, other country will take over us."

BITENCOURT, Nalbert (BRA Captain)
" We are very happy that we could get the ticket of Athens. We have 8,9 months to prepare for Athens so we will be able to get the physical and the mental condition ready during the long preparation. We want to get the gold medal in Athens."

BEAL, Douglas (USA Head Coach)
" Brazil is the best team of the world. So it was difficult to play well against them. We were much better than yesterday, but not good enough to beat them. Maybe the best thing about Brazil is that they play well everyday. That's the great lesson for all the teams; to be best, you have to play at your best all the time."

BALL, Lloy (USA Captain)
" I thought we played better than yesterday with respect to offense. It was a close, well-matched game until the point around 20-20, but at every match, Brazil was dominant after that. It's partly because of the experience of Brazil. I'm disappointed that we lost and could not qualify for the Olympic Games."

Official Result:

Match statistics (P-2) - PDF