Iran rallies for four-set win over Japan
Nagoya, Japan, November 20, 2011 - Iran defeated Japan in four sets (17-25, 25-20, 25-25, 25-15) on the first day of first-round play in the 2011 FIVB Men's World Cup at Nippon Gaishi Hall on Sunday night.
A raucous crowd cheered on the hosts in the nationally televised match.
Arash Kamalvand sparked Iran in the victory, with Alireza Nadi and Mehdi Bazargarde playing strong supporting roles. Iran excelled particulary well on defense.
Kunihiro Shimizu and Yoshihiko Matsumoto were the catalysts for Japan.
Kamalvand was named the most impressive player of the match.
Japan displayed solid teamwork and deft passing skills in the opening set, but then fell into a pattern of unforced errors as Iran took control in the second.
Matsumoto began the contest with an emphatic spike for Japan.
Japan held an 8-6 lead at the first TTO in the opening set.
Shimizu put Japan up 9-7 with a nice spike off an option play.
With Japan ahead 14-9, Iran took a timeout.
A block by Kota Yamamura and a serve that was long by Iran made it 16-11 Japan at the second TTO.
A deflected spike by Amir Ghafour cut Iran's deficit to 18-13, but Japan kept the pressure on with a spike by Yusuke Ishijima.
Japan led 20-13 when Iran elected to call another timeout.
Iran's Arash Kamalvand then scored on a spike to make it 20-14.
The Iranians staved off one set point before falling 25-17 when Arash Keshavarzi served into the net.
Yuta Yoneyama and Shimizu both had six points for Japan in the first set.
Ghafour paced Iran with five.
The second set when back and forth early. Yamamura made a nice slap at the net to give Japan a 6-5 advantage.
Kamalvand split the Japan defense with a spike to equalize at 7-7.
Japan took an 8-7 into the first TTO.
An Ishijima spike made the score 12-12.
A spike by Keshavarzi gave Iran a 16-15 edge at the second TTO.
Japan took a timeout after a spike by Shimizu sailed long and it trailed by 19-16.
Alireza converted a nice give and go play with a spike to make it 22-18 Iran.
Japan held off one set point on a spike by Shimizu, but Iran claimed the set moments later 25-20.
Iran started strongly in the third set and led 8-5 at the first TTO. Iran boosted the lead to 10-5 and Japan took a timeout.
Japan scored three quick points following the timeout and Iran responded by taking one of its own.
The hosts battled and battled, trying to equalize, but were rebuffed by the Iranians each time.
Iran went into the second TTO leading 16-13.
Japan finally tied it 16-16 on a nice block by Shimizu, then moved ahead 17-16 on wicked spike by Takahiro Yamamoto.
Iran came back to tie the score 21-21 and the set continued in a seesaw fashion.
Japan moved ahead 23-21, but Shimizu then sent a serve long and Iran took another point for 23-23.
A Japan spike flew long and Iran then took the set 25-23.
Iran took the initiative in the fourth set, before Japan rallied to even the score at 7-7 and then took an 8-7 lead into the first TTO.
The visitors quelled the surge and went ahead 11-8 with a nice block at the net. They took a 16-9 margin into the second TTO.
Japan trailed 19-11 after Ishijima put a serve into the net as time began to run out for the hosts.
A huge spike by Bazargarde put Iran up 20-13 and they went on to clinch the match 25-15.
Nagoya, Japan, November 20, 2011 - Iran defeated Japan in four sets (17-25, 25-20, 25-25, 25-15) on the first day of first-round play in the 2011 FIVB Men's World Cup at Nippon Gaishi Hall on Sunday night.
A raucous crowd cheered on the hosts in the nationally televised match.
Arash Kamalvand sparked Iran in the victory, with Alireza Nadi and Mehdi Bazargarde playing strong supporting roles. Iran excelled particulary well on defense.
Kunihiro Shimizu and Yoshihiko Matsumoto were the catalysts for Japan.
Kamalvand was named the most impressive player of the match.
Japan displayed solid teamwork and deft passing skills in the opening set, but then fell into a pattern of unforced errors as Iran took control in the second.
Matsumoto began the contest with an emphatic spike for Japan.
Japan held an 8-6 lead at the first TTO in the opening set.
Shimizu put Japan up 9-7 with a nice spike off an option play.
With Japan ahead 14-9, Iran took a timeout.
A block by Kota Yamamura and a serve that was long by Iran made it 16-11 Japan at the second TTO.
A deflected spike by Amir Ghafour cut Iran's deficit to 18-13, but Japan kept the pressure on with a spike by Yusuke Ishijima.
Japan led 20-13 when Iran elected to call another timeout.
Iran's Arash Kamalvand then scored on a spike to make it 20-14.
The Iranians staved off one set point before falling 25-17 when Arash Keshavarzi served into the net.
Yuta Yoneyama and Shimizu both had six points for Japan in the first set.
Ghafour paced Iran with five.
The second set when back and forth early. Yamamura made a nice slap at the net to give Japan a 6-5 advantage.
Kamalvand split the Japan defense with a spike to equalize at 7-7.
Japan took an 8-7 into the first TTO.
An Ishijima spike made the score 12-12.
A spike by Keshavarzi gave Iran a 16-15 edge at the second TTO.
Japan took a timeout after a spike by Shimizu sailed long and it trailed by 19-16.
Alireza converted a nice give and go play with a spike to make it 22-18 Iran.
Japan held off one set point on a spike by Shimizu, but Iran claimed the set moments later 25-20.
Iran started strongly in the third set and led 8-5 at the first TTO. Iran boosted the lead to 10-5 and Japan took a timeout.
Japan scored three quick points following the timeout and Iran responded by taking one of its own.
The hosts battled and battled, trying to equalize, but were rebuffed by the Iranians each time.
Iran went into the second TTO leading 16-13.
Japan finally tied it 16-16 on a nice block by Shimizu, then moved ahead 17-16 on wicked spike by Takahiro Yamamoto.
Iran came back to tie the score 21-21 and the set continued in a seesaw fashion.
Japan moved ahead 23-21, but Shimizu then sent a serve long and Iran took another point for 23-23.
A Japan spike flew long and Iran then took the set 25-23.
Iran took the initiative in the fourth set, before Japan rallied to even the score at 7-7 and then took an 8-7 lead into the first TTO.
The visitors quelled the surge and went ahead 11-8 with a nice block at the net. They took a 16-9 margin into the second TTO.
Japan trailed 19-11 after Ishijima put a serve into the net as time began to run out for the hosts.
A huge spike by Bazargarde put Iran up 20-13 and they went on to clinch the match 25-15.
not really new, "1998"
great n historic victory
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