The juvenile 'tricolor' broke its bad streak in the U19 World Cup with a tight 3-2 on Cuba. With this victory, the team still dreams of the classification, although the margin of error is minimal.
Foto: Volleyball World
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After three losses that left doubts and a rest day that served to rebuild the course, the U-19 volleyball team of Colombia finally celebrated. He did this Monday in Tashkent with a victory full of tension: 3-2 against Cuba, in a duel that became the first win of the country in a World Cup in the category.
It was a cross between two teams without victories, both beaten by the calendar, but with the shared urgency of winning. From the start, Colombia made it clear that this time I was not going to repeat mistakes. He played with energy, decision and an offensive rhythm that dislodged to the Cubans. The first set, very even, bowed in favor of Colombians by 26-24.
The second was even more forceful. Colombia dominated from beginning to end, showed a much firmer collective game and finished with authority: 25-18. Two sets above and everything seemed to be headed towards a quiet closure. But sport is not governed by predictable scripts.
Of the domain to the drama
In the third partial, the Colombian team lost the focus. He lowered the intensity, made mistakes and let Cuba grow up, which did not waste the opportunity. The set ended 16-25, and with it the alarms were lit. The room was even more worrying: lack of order, nerves and a dull game that gave Cubans the partial tie with a 25-17.
Then, everything was defined in the fifth set. Colombia had already lived this situation – I had lost it to the United States – but this time history was different. With the 9-3 score in favor, it seemed resolved, but Cuba reacted and strengthened the margin to a tense 14-13. However, Colombia did not yield. He closed the game with Temple and stayed with the 16-14 set, signing his first celebration in this World Cup.
Colombia added 100 points in the game: 52 per attack, 20 per block, 3 for service and 25 thanks to errors of its rival. Captain Maicol Ortíz was an indisputable figure with 27 points, while Dedrith Hernández (14) and Samuel Martínez (11) also stood out. But beyond the figures, the triumph represents something deeper: a sign of growth, a sample that the group is still committed even in the most adverse moments.
The next challenge will be this Tuesday, July 29 against Finland, the group's strongest team. The chances of advancing are minimal, but there are: Colombia needs to win 3-0 or 3-1 and may the United States lose 0-3 or 1-3 against South Korea. A difficult scenario.
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