Sada Cruzeiro’s Hope Hangs By A Thread After Controversial Win

Sada Cruzeiro kept their semifinal hopes alive at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship 2024 with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Itas Trentino on Thursday. The Brazilian side, boosted by a stellar performance from captain Wallace de Souza, earned two crucial points in their final Pool B match at the Sabiazinho Arena in Uberlândia. However, their fate still depends on the outcome of the Friday match between Shahdab Yazd and Ciudad Voley, with the Brazilians needing specific results to secure their spot in the semifinals.

Sada Cruzeiro’s Vital Victory Over Trentino

In a must-win match to keep their dreams of advancing to the semifinals alive, Sada Cruzeiro delivered a thrilling 3-2 victory over Italian powerhouse Itas Trentino. The match, held at the Sabiazinho Arena in Uberlândia, saw the Brazilians edge out the reigning European champions with a dramatic scoreline of 19-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-16, 15-12. Despite some strong performances from Trentino’s squad, including Giulio Magalini (19 points) and Kamil Rychlicki (18 points), Sada Cruzeiro capitalized on the absence of key players like Alessandro Michieletto and Daniele Lavia, who were rested for the match.

Captain Wallace de Souza was the standout player of the match, contributing a match-high 29 points, including 27 kills, one block, and one ace. His leadership and powerful performance were crucial for Sada Cruzeiro as they secured their second victory of the tournament. Outside hitter Gabriel Vaccari also made an impact, scoring 15 points in his first start of the tournament. Reflecting on the win, Wallace praised his team’s resilience and determination, even as the outcome of their semifinal qualification still hangs in the balance.

Although Sada Cruzeiro’s victory over Trentino was essential, they still need the right result in the Friday match between Shahdab Yazd and Ciudad Voley to advance. With five points in the standings, the Brazilians will move on to the semifinals if Shahdab does not secure a 3-0 or 3-1 win over Ciudad. If the Iranians win all three points, they will move ahead of Cruzeiro. Therefore, the fate of Sada Cruzeiro’s semifinal hopes remains out of their hands, depending on the outcome of the upcoming match.

Perfect Pool A Campaign

In other tournament news, Foolad Sirjan of Iran remains the only undefeated team in the competition, finishing their Pool A campaign with a dominant 3-0 victory over Praia Clube. The Iranian side defeated the Brazilian hosts with set scores of 25-16, 25-13, and 25-21, thanks to standout performances from outside hitter Alireza Abdolhamidi (18 points) and opposite Ali Hajipour (14 points). Foolad Sirjan will now await the winner of the upcoming match between Sada Cruzeiro (or Shahdab Yazd) for a semifinal clash.

The second semifinal spot from Pool A will be decided on Friday when Cucine Lube Civitanova, who currently sits in second place with four points, faces off against third-placed Al Ahly SC of Egypt, with three points. The winner of this match will progress to face Trentino in the semifinals for a chance to compete for the gold medal. The stakes are high as both teams fight for their place in the final stages of the tournament.