RIO DE JANEIRO, June 11 -- Brazil beat the United States 3-1 in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, in their first of two matches in the World League of volleyball on Saturday.
With the win, Brazil finally found its revenge against the Americans for having lost the gold medal match of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
The match marked the first meeting between the two sides since the Olympic finals of 2008.
Winning 19-25, 25-21, 25-19 and 25-21, Brazil reacted strongly after losing the first set and won an important moral victory against the reigning Olympic champions.
The victory improves Brazil to five consecutive wins in the 2011 tournament, reaching its 15th point and sole leadership of Group A where the United States placed second with nine points after winning three games and losing twice.
Brazil and the United States will face off again on Sunday.
In the next round, Brazil will host Puerto Rico while the United States faces host Poland.