Belgium prevailed despite a tough fight with the Portuguese
Liege, Belgium, 14 June, 2015 – Belgium beat Portugal 3-2 (25-13, 25-27, 30-28, 23-25, 15-14) in a tightly-fought and exciting FIVB World League fixture.
Belgium’s star player of recent games, Sam Deroo, was strong from the very start, and ably assisted by Gert Van Walle, the Red Dragons eased to a first set win, 25-13.
Portugal regrouped and came back stronger in set two, with Joao Oliveira and Marco Ferreira notching some great kills. Van Walle and Deroo continued to score for Belgium, but Portugal edged ahead and took the set 27-25. And the same individuals dominated in a very close third set, which saw both sides lose set points before Belgium finally won one to put their country into a 2-1 lead (30-28).
But with Marco Ferreira and brother Alex on fine form, Portugal took set four 25-23 to force a decider. The Ferreiras shone again and the score remained very close, but Belgium were the team who took their late opportunities, with Van Walle smashing a couple of late spikes to take the set 15-13, and the match 3-2.
Gert Van Walle was the match top scorer with 22 points. Marco Ferreira got 18 for Portugal, closely followed by his brother on 17. Read the match text commentary
here.