Olympic volleyball: Russia stun Brazil to win men's gold

London, Aug 12 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia shocked Brazil by coming back from two sets down to win the Olympic gold in the men's volleyball event here Sunday.

The result gave Russia their first volleyball gold and stopped Brazil from achieving the Olympics' first volleyball double gold since the Moscow Games of 1980 after the Brazilian women beat the United States in Saturday's final.

Brazil took the first two sets by convincing margins, 25-19 and 25-20 and had match point in the third at 24-23 up before the Russians fought back to take the set 29-27.

After this turning point, Russia began to take control, closing out the match by winning the fourth set 25-22 and the decider 25-9.

Dmitry Musersky top-scored with 31 points for Russia, while Wallace de Souza was the best of the Brazilians with 27 points.

Italy beat Bulgaria by three sets to one to win the bronze medal earlier Sunday.

The Italians won 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21 to take their third Olympic bronze in the event since 1984.

Captain Cristian Savani led the scoring with 23 points, nearly the sum total of Bulgaria's top scorers Vladimir Nikolov and Todor Aleksiev, who hit 12 apiece.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

ss/vt