LEGENDARY MATCH | THAILAND vs CHINA | Women's VNL 2022

It's Thailand in the red serving. It's China in yellow receiving this all Asian derby, the Round Egg, the Volleyball Nations League, week one for these two teams here. That's a good touch from Wang Yuanyuan. Oh, good up. This could be 2-0. Well, that's quite tight, though. And the minute that Thailand touch the ball, you get a chance that they're going to make something of it. And that's just brilliant. Pornhub. Don't be surprised if the middle blockers for China are the leading point scorers at this rate. This will stay in play, and there's a down ball chance. Oh, well played. Brilliant reactions from Li Yingying to keep that ball off the floor. And now Thailand have to come again. Oh, well up from Ching Yi. Oh, that was such good blocking. What a great rally. Well, that's just absolutely breathtaking. If they're going to play every rally like that, it's going to be quite a night. But it's interesting that it's the blocking of Thailand that we're talking about being so patient and so well-structured. And they had to make a play at it. That's well played. She was committed, though. Mesmerized, in fact. Oh, free ball this for China. Goodness me, though, they're a little bit static. Better chance now. Oh, it's just wonderful movement. What a great pick up Pim Pachaya. Oh, yes. Fabulous from Thailand. Thailand can hit higher than that as well. Nice dig from Li Yingying. But it's well watched. Cha Chuan had a bet. It was in a better position to deal with that than Diao Linyao. Lovely. Very efficient. And now we're getting to the business end of this set. This is probably, dare I say, where China will look to pull away if they can. I've got a chance. Oh, that's a bit tight. Oh, I tell you what. I tell you what. And quite rightly, Cha Chuan saying she played that on our side of the net. Dominican Republic, nine, Netherlands, ten. So it is a dynamic world ranking system. Every match, every set counts. I'm fascinated to know how Russia can go up. Cha Chuan once again. Well played. They've managed to wrestle back the lead. Oh, they could get another one here. Oh, good up. And again, I say. This is phenomenal. And again, Cha Chuan. Crowd loving it. China. Oh, goodness me. Somebody land a blow. Oh, yes. Absolutely phenomenal volleyball. This is the Volleyball Nations League. And that is Thailand at its best. One of the great rallies of the VNL in 2022. There we go. A bit of a crossover, a combination play. The block just not in position 23-21. This is a very interesting turn of events. Big moment, this. Well, it's tight. China could level up here and they will level up. Li Yingying coming to the rescue. They can have a swing for it. And they've got it. Oh, yes. What a start to this game. The crowd go crazy. On the number 12, make sure she's still moving freely. We'll see if Thailand try and hunt her down with a serve. Oh, do you mind? Do you mind? Goodness me. What are we seeing here? Thailand, you should be out on your feet here. You've had some sensational volleyball. How are you still doing this? How are they still doing this? Just absolutely breathtaking. So when they don't get one, it's almost bewildering. Oh, well played. Good up from Wang Weiyi. That will stay in play. Cha Chuan's on it. Free ball, China. Ding Xia already barking out the orders as to what she's going to do here. Quick ball for Li Yingying. Well played. Because height equals opportunity. That's untouched, but apparently not. Well, there's going to be a mid-rally. Well, they can call a mid-rally challenge, China. They haven't done it. They're going to play it out, which I like. They're trying, aren't they? There we go. Ding Xia says enough of this. That's well watched by Cha Chuan. It was a great point back. But yeah, it's a big hill to climb now, isn't it? Against a team of this quality, they don't give away many free points and they battle so hard. That's more like a big swing that time. Wang Yunlu makes sure of it. As a 26-year-old, seems a little unusual, but there's so much depth in Chinese volleyball. Gong Xiangyu looking for the point and she'll get it. Look how far back towards the baseline. To seek that opportunity and to take it as well as she did. Ding Pichai, free ball, China. Really good play, though. I said free ball, China, but it was rolled on to Yuan Xinyue. Yeah, 17-8 now. Certainly China very much in control of the second set. And that's going to make it even harder, really hard for her to make a dig on the ball because it's coming from her side. Two aces in a row. It won't be ace number three, but it's free ball for China. Wang Yuanyuan couldn't do much with it, unfortunately for her. And Cha Chuan's tagged the line. Handy substitution to have available. Nice quick attack from Thailand. Do better in the third set as this one comes to its inevitable close. Solid siding out from China, which is all they need to worry about at the moment. Wang Yuanyuan coming in to pass. Touch. Oh, what a great play that is. Gong Xiangyu, it's not easy, that ball coming across her body like that. Of Thailand to her advantage. Shows they are absolutely in control of this second set. Bichaya doing what she does best. Oh, dear. That's a great block from Thailand. To dig that ball, she didn't have much of a channel to work in there. Off the block from Li Yingying. Compete hard for a couple of points and then completely forget this set. Go back to what they were doing so well. Maybe a slight intrusion under the net. 24-13, it's probably a moot point. China possibly in control of this set. And they're going to have a swing for it. Well played. Gong Xiangyu wraps it all up. China take the second set, 25-13, and it's one all here in Ankara. Getting some valuable court time here. The last match of the round for these teams. That's a decent touch. Li Yingying trying to create some room for herself, which she does. Thailand have to have another go. And another go. That's going to stay in play, is it? Oh, not quite. They don't have as many options, obviously. The quick attack is taken away by a good serve, so they have to run that quickly. Good up. And kept her feet on her own side then. Pornpan, second referee, having a good look at that. Good touch. Another great rally developing here. China still can't find the floor. Still can't find the floor, now they do. That one just caught defender high at six for a moment. They have the ascendancy at 7-4. Oh, what a pick up that is. Oh, no. After such a great pick up, Li Yingying, she became that innocent bystander. Fair play, but those little roll shots that are getting touched drive you crazy. That is a wonderful block from Wang Yunlu. I think they ran about six or seven points in a row at about this point of the second set. Oh, not going to come back. But I'm sure she does care. Of course, she does. I dread to think what Duan Xinyue would be like if she actually had a run up where she's from outside the three minutes line coming in with a space to come in and act. All weak from China, which I find fascinating that they're now missing a serve received. So Thailand responding well out of the technical timeout, the wrong part of the forearm and off she goes. Play from Chachouan. Decent serve. Thailand can't run the middle. Oh, it's going to be free ball here for China. Duan Xinyue will fancy this one, but it's a good ball out wide. Excellent work. Another good serve from Li Yingying, which has got Chachouan having to struggle to get that one there. It has gone off the hands. Chachouan has come on. That's well played. Big hits. Two very big hitters China have got, haven't they? Through the outside. And a number 10 has come on and been really effective. Oh, that's awful. That's miserable. It's awfully good as far as China are concerned. Is it awful or is it perfection? Good up. Nice dig, but that's going to be tight on the net. Trouble for Thailand. China take the point. The height advantage was always going to be on China's side on that occasion. Nice little change up from Duan Xinyue. Shot the couple short, decided to go deep with that one. It's not made it, but it has caught the block. So China will take the point. Good up. There's another big lead here for China, just as they got in the last set. And it does look very much like this is going to be 2-1 before not too long. Oh, well played. Oh, Ding Xia, that was great. You got blocked, but still recovered it. Well, that's not coming over. So it was not quite so great in the end. Oh, well. But again, not unlike the second set, China just put their foot down after the technical timeout. That's a better connection. And the three tallest players pretty much at the net here for China. It could be difficult for Thailand. Oh, well, it gets through, but it's what a wonderful dig that is. Well, was that a back row attack? Did she have a foot on the line? I guess it won't matter because that is a clean winner. For Thailand. Wang Xiangyu out of the attack, but Yuan Xinyue not. Win, lose or draw. Oh, what a pick up. Well, that's tipped right to where Li Yingying was waiting. Still in play. Oh, well done. People were leaving their seats then. And that has come off of Wang Yuanyuan. She's saying no, but now she's not going to argue the point. Simple stuff, really, like an episode of soap. Oh, that that is a proper swing from Wang Yuanyuan. So this is a crucial few points here for Thailand in their side out game. And so far, so good. It's holding firm the course of the match, so she's found a rhythm again. Oh, well played. Pornpan to get past Yuan Xinyue as well. Quite the turnaround. Hatia with the serve. It's an excellent serve, has to go wide. But it's that one player that you want to be able to deal with that situation, Li Yingying. That's not caught anyone. So unforced error from Pim Pachaya. Oh, well played. That will stay in play. Serving pressure is quite high from China at the moment, but Thailand still managing to use the block and make it tricky. They get their side out. Worried about how much petrol they had. Well, they are showing a second lease of life here. That will work for China. Certainly seems like they've been on a fast charge, doesn't it? To be able to play this one today to the level that they have. And oh, just wonderful. The hands up waiting and then it's just tight. They've been waiting for that. Good touches again, Thailand. And it will be Thailand's point 23-19. So this is going against rankings, but this is a new Thailand outfit. They're not there yet. No, they're not. And they got away with that. That was horrible. The 26 year old debutante in the VNL. Oh dear, it's going to be free ball China. I think Sharin very early. And it's Li Yingying who says you're not getting a set point just yet. That's a good ball in. And they are going to get it. And that means it is set point Thailand. And can you believe Thailand, who were down and out after three sets, are serving to take this to five. And now they have two golden opportunities to do it from side out. I think it might well be a Chalepon. It might have to be. Oh, well played. What a great save. Oh, they're all over the place here, Thailand. And it's not going to be side out from there. And another set point saved by China. Better ball in. Oh, that's caught the block. And has that? Yes, it has. It is a touch against China. They've taken the set. Thailand, 25-23. It's laser light from Pim Pachaya. China don't believe in Ding Xia. They've taken her off. Zhao Linyu now in to try and run the offence. That's a really good angle from Li Yingying in the circumstances. And that is a really that's a huge point for China. Li Yingying is serving. And it's a good serve. And that's just such a good swing. Absolutely clean set of heels tonight. Oh, goodness. Another scuff that makes it over. China don't know how to hit a winner at this stage of a fifth set. And look at that. Just put it in play. Make China come. Oh, and that's one that's landed right in front of everybody. Porn pun watching it hit the floor. Forced and it's forced for the side out. Goodness me, Gongxiang Yu. This is a massive moment for Thailand volleyball. Three front row attacking options. Lots of movement. All good up for China. And if there's one player you want at the net, it's Li Yingying. Now two for the win. China have decided that they have to. Oh, there's going to be a swing chance for the match. Another one. Even better chance this time. The chariporn. And still the rally continues. Oh, what a dig. What a save. Oh, my goodness. Che Chuan can only roll it in now. China have got control of this rally. Oh, yes, that's magnificent play. What a way to hold your own there, China. That's phenomenal. It's going to be Pimperchaya or a chariporn. You feel they're going to get this ball for the win. Oh, incredible dig. Li Yingying again. Oh, it's still in play. Oh, they've saved another one.