U.S. national team beat Korea earning a second consecutive Olympic final. Despite very ambitious play, Yeon-Kung Kim and her teammates did not manage to maintain winning streak and they have to focus on the competition for the bronze medal. Japan was unable to stop Brazil, so on Saturday we will see a repeat final from Beijing, where USA also met Brazil.
Korea 0 – 3 USA
Top scorers: Y-K Kim 20, S-Y Han 13, D-Y Jung 7; D. Hooker 24, J. Larson 14, F. Akinradewo 12
Team USA qualified for the final match of the Olympic tournament for the third time in history after routing Korea in three straight sets (25-20, 25-22, and 25-22) in the first semi-final played on Thursday afternoon at Earls Court.
The US American side missed out on Olympic gold four years ago in Beijing losing to Brazil as well as back in 1984 as China had edged the local heroines in Los Angeles. With this result the star-studded group coached by Hugh McCutcheon prolonged their winning streak in London by beating Korea for the second time after doing so also in the opening match of pool play.
Destinee Hooker claimed the much awaited duel with Korean opposite Kim Yeon-Koung by scoring 24 points with Jordan Larson and Foluke Akinradewo also finishing the game in double digits with 14 and 12 respectively. Kim anchored Korea’s offense with 20, including 2 aces, but the Asian ladies could not stand the terrific power and consistency showed by the winners of the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix and current leaders of the world ranking. USA will play Brazil as the Olympic gold will be at stake this coming Saturday, August 11.
Korea did not win, however, plenty of volleyball fans will remember the team. All what Korea presents is something amazing . It’s not just a fantastic play of this team, not about the wonderful attacks showed by their leaders Yeon – Kung Kim, but first of all, Korean players are presenting lovely and honest rejoicing after every single won point. Particularly, mentioned earlier Yeon – Kung Kim. Her joy is spontaneous and impressive. She jumps, shouts, lies down on the field, pulls faces, so it makes that volleyball is becoming more and more colorful.
Brazil 3 – 0 Japan
Top scorers: Fabiana C. 13, Sheilla C. 13, Thaisa M. 12; S. Kimura 14, A. Otomo 10, Y. Ebata 7
Brazil will try to prolong its supremacy by taking on the USA in the Olympic final that is scheduled for this coming Saturday after downing Japan in straight sets (25-18, 25-15, and 25-18) in the second semi-final played at Earls Court in front of 15,000 fans.
The last and deciding act of the women’s tournament will be a remake of the final played four years ago in Beijing as well as of the match played in the prelims and claimed by the USA with the score of 3-1. Japan never really challenged the players around Sheilla Castro and failed to make it to the Olympic final with their last appearance in a gold medal match dating back to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Still Team Japan will have the chance to go for an Olympic medal by playing Korea in the classification match that is also scheduled for Saturday at 11.30 am. Brazil’s dominance was overwhelming with five players finishing the match in double figures – and Sheilla setting the tone with 14 – while Japan star Saori Kimura could not do much to resist to that Brazilian storm even though she also chipped in with 14 points.
This is the reason why volleyball should be loved. It is unpredictable sport and people who gamble do not like this event because they waste a lot of money betting results of volleyball duals.Who would expect that Brazil will be able to arise after fatal group stage? Does anyone still remember that Brazil could fall off in the first round if USA lost Turkey? Nobody, expect Brazilian fans. The team coached by Roberto Guimaraes did not give up and qualified to the Olympic final where face USA and Brazil is not on a hiding to nothing.
THE OLYMPIC GRAND FINAL
BRAZIL – USA 11-AUG 18:30 LOCAL TIME/ 19:30 CET
THE BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
Japan – Korea 11-Aug 11:30 local time/ 12:30 CET
Source: own news/ fivb.org
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