RIO DE JANEIRO — It has been a rough stretch for Brazil at these Games. Playing at home in front of loud, supportive crowds, the Brazilians endured critical losses to Argentina in men’s basketball and to Sweden in women’s soccer, and on Tuesday their top-ranked beach volleyball team lost to Germany.
But when midnight struck on Copacabana, the Brazilians took their beach back.
In front of a raucous home crowd, Brazil’s No. 2 team, Ágatha and Bárbara, knocked out the favored United States duo of Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross, to advance to the gold medal match.