MICOL AND MARGHERITA GO FOR GOLD ON THE SANDS OF DAKAR
After beating Switzerland in a tie-break, Italy’s Coretti and Lafuenti face Dutch pair Both and de Groot in the Youth Olympic beach volleyball final.
At 13–21 there’s barely time to change ends and get back to the service line. Switzerland have levelled the match, the next set goes to 15, and every ball on the sands of Saly brings the final a little closer. Margherita Coretti and Micol Lafuenti, who won the first set 21–19, take the third 15–10. And there they are, playing for gold.
The semi-final against Gähwiler and Eugster was already their second match of the day. Italy had beaten Argentina in straight sets in the quarter-finals. Against Switzerland, they had to regroup just as the match seemed to be slipping away. Five points is a healthy margin in a tie-break.
The final starts at 3 p.m. Italian time
On Wednesday 4 November the Italians face Jara Both and Matilda de Groot of the Netherlands. The match starts at 3 p.m. Italian time on Olympic Channel. The scheduled Rai Sport and RaiPlay slot, from 2 to 2.50 p.m., ends before the match.
Meanwhile, on the futsal court
Italy beat Costa Rica 4–1 to book a place in the women’s futsal semi-finals. Rita Zappia scored all four goals. Four times the same name on the scoresheet in a match that took Italy through.
This is the first Olympic event held on the African continent. And if you’re only just getting to know these Games, this is a lovely place to start. A team you met yesterday, a set that was going the wrong way, and today you might find yourself checking the clock because at three you want to know how it ends.
