01-SEPTEMBER-2012
WORLD LEAGUE:RESULT (2-3)
NEXT MATCH IS DECISIVE
 

Sometimes playing well isn’t enough, and the National Team as lost today to the Netherlands, (2-3: 24/26, 23/25, 26/24, 25/22 e18/20). This result however does not translate the true course of the first match of the 2013 World League playoffs. Portugal had the chance of putting additional pressure on its opponent, in the first two sets, that begin well for the Portuguese side, however, the Dutch manage to overcome the false start, winning the first two sets, but losing to Portugal the third and fourth sets. The Netherlands team won the final set but did not convince that they were the stronger side.

Valdir Sequeira, Tony Krolis and Joao Jose, with 24, 23 e 18 points, respectively were the match’s best scorers.

Flavio Gulinelli: “If we had been a little more concentrated in the first two sets, the result today could be different. However, we’ve manage to recover well, in a match that could went for both sides, as you can see by the partials. Tomorrow there’s a great chance of winning the playoff and we’re going to do everything to achieve that goal”.

Joao Jose: “The first match is always the tougher and if we had won that would been perfect. We performed in the court all the tactics instructed and even losing 2-0, we knew how to overcome it and fight for the victory. The last set was decided by a single detail and involved a bad call from the referee. I’m happy with the team’s attitude though. Tomorrow is a new day and we have a new match to play”.

Valdir Sequeira: “We were aware that the match was going to be very difficult. Unfortunately we woke up late in the math, giving them two sets of advantage. I believe tomorrow it will be different.