Brazil strike gold as Copa goes bananas

Brazil's Alison and Bruno Schmidt have sent the crowd at Copacabana into a frenzy by capturing the gold medal in the men's beach volleyball.

In front of a rain-drenched but ecstatic crowd, the world champions won Brazil's first gold in the sport since the 2004 Games in Athens.

The Brazilians lagged behind at the start of the first set but Schmidt turned it around with a series of attacks, until Alison took the set 21-19 with a block against Italy's Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo.

The European champions looked like the stronger duo early in the second set of the midnight match, but once again Brazil rallied to claim gold with a 21-17 second set scoreline.