Iran downs Argentina for fourth victory

Osaka, Japan, November 25, 2011 - Iran posted a five-set victory (15-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-16, 15-12) over Argentina on the second day of second-round action in the 2011 FIVB Men's World Cup at Osaka Central Gym on Friday. The victory was the fourth in five games for the Asian champions.

Julio Velasco's squad was down 2-1 but rallied for yet another win. Pourya Fayazi registered a match-high 18 points and was named the most impressive player of the match. Hamzeh Zarini and Mohammad Mousavi added 15 points each for the winners. Federico Pereyra paced Argentina with 17 points.

Iran made the key plays at crucial points throughout the match and emerged triumphant as a result. Both teams entered the match with 3-1 records.

Argentina was in front 8-4 at the first TTO of the opening set. A spike by Pereyra gave the South Americans a 10-6 lead. Iran took a timeout while trailing 12-6 as Pereyra tallied three early points. A nice option play spike by Fayazi made it 12-7. Fayazi had two blocks as the score went to 15-10. Argentina was up 16-10 at the second TTO. Argentina roared out of the timeout and scored eight straight points to reach set point. Iran held off five set points before Argentina finished it on a spike by Sebastian Sole. Facundo Conte had six points in the set for Argentina, while Pereyra added five. Fayazi had four for Iran.

Iran led 8-5 at the first TTO of the second set, behind five points from Fayazi. With Iran in front 10-5, Argentina called a timeout. A service ace by Pablo Crer made it 11-8. Alireza Nadi's service error took the score to 14-11. A Bazargade spike gave an Iran a 16-11 lead at the second TTO. With Iran up 18-15, Argentina took a timeout. Zarini soared for a spike to put Iran up 21-18. A poor serve by Mariano Giustiniano gave Iran set point at 24-21. Iran claimed the set 25-21 on a net infraction by Sole. Fayazi had seven points in the set. 

Argentina was ahead 8-6 at the first TTO of the third set. A Conte spike made it 10-8 for Argentina. Iran equalized at 11-11 on a dink by Fayazi and took a 12-11 lead on a block by Mousavi. Argentina fought back with four straight points for 15-12. A powerful spike by Conte sent Argentina into the second TTO ahead 16-13. A service ace by Mousavi brought Iran within 20-16. A nice swipe by Conte made it 22-19 for Argentina. Zarini's service ace brought Iran within a point at 22-21, but his next serve was too long. Iran leveled at 23-23 on a block by Amir Ghafour and Argentina took a timeout. Conte soared for a spike to make it 24-23 and Iran called a timeout. A block by Ghafour kept Iran in the set, but then he served into the net and Crer's block gave Argentina the set 26-24. Zarini had six points in the set, while Conte tallied five.

Iran took a quick 4-0 lead in the fourth set. Mehdi Mahdavi's spike put Iran up 7-3. Iran had an 8-5 lead at the first TTO. Luciano De Cecco executed a beautiful reverse dink to make it 9-7. A block by Ghafour gave Iran a four-point lead at 11-7. Down 12-7, Argentina took a timeout. Sole's spike made it 12-8. Fayazi's spike saw Iran lead 16-11 at the second TTO. Ghafour's spike put Iran up 18-12 as they took control of the set. Mousavi's service ace took it to 21-12. Iran took a timeout while leading 23-15 and then claimed the set moments later on a spike by Alireza.

The Iranians went ahead 5-4 in the final set on a spike by Fayazi. A Mousavi block took Iran to a 7-4 advantage. Iran led 8-5 at the TTO following a service error by Argentina. After another Iran spike, Argentina took time out while behind 9-5. Argentina responded with three points to pull within 9-8, but then Ghafour delivered another spike for 10-8. A missed spike by Rodrigo Quiroga put Iran within two points of victory at 13-10. Mousavi's spike took it to match point and 14-11, but Argentina fought back with a spike. The match ended fittingly with a final spike by Fayazi.