{"id":5247,"date":"2020-06-22T10:25:21","date_gmt":"2020-06-22T10:25:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportsnewsforyou.com\/?p=5247"},"modified":"2020-06-22T10:25:21","modified_gmt":"2020-06-22T10:25:21","slug":"wl-canada-earns-vital-win-portugal-advanced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/?p=5247","title":{"rendered":"WL: Canada earns vital win. Portugal advanced"},"content":{"rendered":"

Canada defended the ends of the first and second set reaching an important victory over Finland. The Glenn Hoag\u2019s boys took transition leadership in Pool C. Portugal claimed a first duel against Japan in Guimaraes and outrun Finland in Power Ranking. Alex Ferreira \u201cAlex\u201d played another superb game posting 20 points.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finland – Canada 0 \u2013 3<\/strong> (23-25, 22-25, 17-25)
<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finland:<\/strong> Esko 1, Kunnari 12, Matti Oivanen 9, Mikko Oivanen 6, Siltala 6, Shumov 5, Kerminen (L) and Ojansivu 2, Lehtonen, Sivula 4, Tervaportti. Hietanen 3
Canada:<\/strong> Schneider, Winters 12, Simac 6, Soonias 17, Perrin 18, Verhoeff 4, Lewis (L) and Howatson 2, Van Lankvelt, Vigrass, DeRocco<\/p>\n

The maximum six points from two games in Finland makes Canada a strong challenger to the Netherlands for the one place in the World League finals reserved for a Pool C team. It was the first time Canada has recorded six wins in a single World League season beating their record of five in 1999.<\/p>\n

The crowd of 3,950 saw that Finland\u2019s blocking could not match the raw power of Canada\u2019s left side hitter Gordon Perrin<\/strong> who finished with 18 points, also pitching in three blocks. Right side hitter Dallas Soonias<\/strong> was his dangerous self and went on to make 17 points, while team captain Fred Winters contributed with twelve, and a solid reception game. Josh Howatson set up many points well. Libero Daniel Lewis<\/strong> showed sensational positional sense, enabling him to a dozen good digs.<\/p>\n

For Finland, Olli Kunnari<\/strong> had 12 points, and Matti Oivanen<\/strong> nine.<\/p>\n

After two tight sets won, Canada let loose in the third and raced to lead 8-2 and 16-6 at the technical time outs. From 18-8 on, Canada matched every single Finnish point with one of its own until getting match points at 24-15.<\/p>\n

Canada managed to steal the first set after Finland led 8-6 and 16-14 at the technical time outs. Tall middle blocker Konstantin Shumov<\/strong>,  not much used, finished well on quick sets. Soonias<\/strong> started to show up after a quiet start, and together with left side hitting colleague Perrin<\/strong> he dragged Canada up and past. Finland crept to tie at 23-23, but a one-on-one block  gave a set point which Finland lost on a three-meter line infringement, giving it to Canada 25-23.<\/p>\n

Soonias<\/strong> and Perrin<\/strong> continued scoring in the second set, five points each, and towards the end Canada could make it a three point lead. Perrin\u2019s power and a two-man block by Howatson<\/strong> and Adam Simac<\/strong> led to a set point finished by Simac again.<\/p>\n

Individual stats:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n

FinlandSpike %BlockServeDigReceptionRunning Sets  NoteMikko Esko    100%     4         10.67Olli Kunnari    59%      2   4        54% Matti Oivanen    71%     1     3   4        66% Antti Siltala    30%     5        43% Konstantin Shumov    62%     1  Lauri Kerminen (L)      6        74% Olli-Peka Ojansivu      0%     1     1   1  Juka Lehtonen      0%     1  Urpo Sivula     50%     2  Eemi Tervaportti    100%     1          3.33Matti Hietanen     30%     1    1        66% <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n

CanadaSpike %BlockServeDigReceptionRunning SetsDustin Schneider       0%               4.33Fred Winters      53%     2     1   1       38% Adam Simac      75%     2     1   2  Dallas Soonias      55%     2    2  Gordon Perrin      56%     3     1   9  Rudy Verhoeff      100%     1    2  Dan Lewis (L)     12        61% Josh Howatson      50%     1    1            1.33Tony Van Lankveld       0%     Graham Vigrass       0%     Jason DeRocco      <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Team Stats:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n

ActionFinlandCanadaSpike points      41    45Spike %      41%    55%Block       3    11Serve       6     3Dig      34    29Reception      57%    39%Running set note      14   5.67<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Portugal – Japan 3 \u2013 1<\/strong> (25-22, 20-25, 26-24, 25-15)
<\/strong><\/p>\n

Portugal:<\/strong> Pinheiro 4, Lopes 14, Jose 9, Sequeira 21, Alex 20, Marcel 7, Coelho (L) and Violas, Casas, Gomes
Japan:<\/strong> Kondoh 2, Fukuzawa 17, Yamamura 3, Yako 13, Koshikawa 17, Suzuki 2, Nagano (L) and Imamura, Yokota 1, Gottsu 3, Yoneuama 3, Matsumoto<\/p>\n

Japan started the match well, with their attack causing problems for the Portuguese block. At the 1st TTO, Japan was ahead by 8-6, but two points from Alex Ferreira<\/strong> (attack and block), an ace from Nuno Pinheiro and a spike from Valdir Sequeira<\/strong> (10-8) forced Japan coach Gary Sato<\/strong> to ask for a timeout. Another ace from the Portuguese setter increased the pressure (12-8) on Japan and, at the 2nd TTO, the home team led by four points. Japan recovered soon after, led in the attack by Daisuke Yako<\/strong> and Yu Koshikawa<\/strong>, but a block from Marcel Gil<\/strong> renewed Portugal\u2019s confidence (20-16), and closed the set winning (25-22).<\/p>\n

The second set was much less balanced. Portugal led at the 1st TTO, with an attack from Joao Jose<\/strong> at the first touch (8-7), but Japan took the lead through an attack from Koshikawa (11-9) and increased the gap in the score (14-10). The growing confidence of the Japanese team, showing an improved attack and block (24-18), was rewarded with the triumph in the set, (25-20), scored by Koshikawa<\/strong> in the attack.<\/p>\n

Japan maintained its momentum in the third set, with Gary Sato\u2019s team leading (3-1, 8-7). Portugal took the lead with two points from Valdir Sequeira<\/strong> (11-10), but Japan charged again (13-12) led by Tatsuya Fukuzawa<\/strong>, who scored the 16th point (16-13). Supported by their home crowd, Portugal recovered (19-19), but Koshikawa scored his 15th point of the match on another ace and retook the lead (21-19). The tie at 22 kept everything open, but Alex<\/strong> solved the question with a point in the attack and another in the block (26-24).<\/p>\n

Portugal came out strong in the beginning of the 4th set (5-1), but Japan responded with the orientals traditional patience (5-5). Valdir was much less patient, and scored four consecutive points (11-5). Unstoppable, developing a joyful and effective game,Portugal sped up (17-7) towards a triumph that rewarded their attitude and unconditional support of the crowd (25-15) with an ace from Andre Lopes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Valdir Sequeira<\/strong> (21) and Alexandre Ferreira (Alex)<\/strong> (20) were the best scorers of the match, while Tatsuya Fukuzawa<\/strong> and Yu Koshikawa<\/strong>, both with 17 points, were the top scorers for the Japanese. The attack and block were decisive in the match, with the home team superior on those two skills.<\/p>\n

Individual stats:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n

PortugalSpike%BlockServeDigReceptionRunning Sets NoteNuno Pinheiro     25%      3             7.25Andre Lopes     37%     4     1   2       65% Joao Jose     54%     3    Valdir Sequeira     37%     4     1   2  Alex Ferreira     58%      1   4       28% Marcel Gil     55%     2    1  Joao Coelho (L)      3       16% Tiago Violas                 1.25Ivo Casas      Jose Gomes      <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n

JapanSpike %BlockServeDigReceptionRunnig Sets NoteShigeru Kondoh      0%     2             4.25Tatsuya Fukuzawa     46%     1     2        20% Kota Yamamura     25%     Daisuke Yako     54%     Yu Koshikawa     33%      3   1        28% Yoshifumi Suzuki      0%     2    Takeshi Nagano (L)      3        70% Shum Imamura                1.5Kazuyoshi Yokota      0%       1   Gottsu     40%     1    Yuta Yoneyama     42%     1    Yishihiko Matsumoto      <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Team stats:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n

ActionPortugalJapanSpike points       54    48Spike %       45%    38Block       15     7Serve        6     6Dig       12     4Reception       38%    30%Running Sete Note       8,5    5.75<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Canada defended the ends of the first and second set reaching an important victory over Finland. The Glenn Hoag\u2019s boys took transition leadership in Pool C. Portugal claimed a first duel against Japan in Guimaraes and outrun Finland in Power Ranking. Alex Ferreira \u201cAlex\u201d played another superb game posting 20 points.   Finland – Canada…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5247"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5247\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/googmn.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}