World Cup-holders Russia came from two sets down to beat world champions Brazil in a thrilling Olympic men's volleyball final on Sunday. Russia looked down and out at two sets to love and 22-19 down in the third, but with the title in sight, Brazil wilted badly.
The South Americans failed to complete an Olympic double a day after their women beat the United States to retain their title. It was Brazil's second defeat in a row in an Olympic final. Italy beat Bulgaria to claim the bronze medal.
What had steadily become a procession for the Brazilians turned into one of the greatest comebacks in Olympic sport.
Brazil were three points from victory when leading 22-19 in the third and they twice had match-point at 24-23 and 25-24 but they couldn't convert them.
Led by 2.18m giant spiker Dmitriy Muserskiy, Russia battled their way to a 29-27 success in the third and then pulled out a 22-15 lead in the fourth before taking that 25-22.
Brazil's game was riddled with mistakes at this point and they kept multiplying as Dante served into the net and Wallace sent a spike long.
Luck was against them too as even Russian blocks were sailing past stricken Brazilian players and dropping into the corner, out of their reach.
It was a remarkable turnaround in a match that for the majority of the first three sets seemed to be men against boys.
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