Saitama, Japan, November 17, 2006: Japan survived a furious rally by Egypt to begin their Pool A campaign with a 3-2 victory at Saitama Super Arena on Friday night.
The home team won the first two sets 25-13, 25-21 but lost the next two 26-24, 26-24, before regrouping to take the tie-break 15-12 in front of over 9,000 spectators.
Japan were determined not to suffer stage fright on opening night, like their women's team had done against Asian rivals Chinese Taipei in Tokyo on October 31.
The hosts romped to the first set 25-13 in 20 minutes, with net master Nobuharu Saito, southpaw spiker Takahiro Yamamoto and captain Masaji Ogino scoring four poins apiece.
The fearsome left-handed spiker Ahmed Abd Elnaeim led Egypt's reply with seven spikes, six more than any of his teammates.
In the second set, Japan maintained a fast pace. Ogino's persistence and power was a constant source of inspiration to his team, and Yamamoto was really in the mood with his flashing cross-court attacks.
Leading 19-16, Japan head coach Tatsuya Ueta replaced Kota Yamamura with crowd favourite Yu Koshikawa, who had been left out of the starting six. This produced one of the biggest cheers of the night inside the Super Arena -- and then one of the biggest sighs when Koshikawa served into the net.
Yusuke "Gottsu" Ishijima pulled off a lightning dig on the dangerous Elnaiem, and then wisely ducked under the rebound from the same player as it whistled over his head and out for Japan to lead 21-17.
Hossam Shaarawy kept the points ticking over for Egypt, on the block and in attack, but Ishijima was the dominant player in the closing stages of the second set, which Japan took 25-21.
Egypt's blocking was hot in the third set, and Japan needed an early TO down 4-1. Yamamura reduced the deficit with a wristy winner at the net, and setter Yuta Abe followed up with some agile play in attack, block and dig.
A stupendous drive from Ishijima brought Japan level 7-7 and sent Egypt for cover in a TO as their early third-set advantage had been wiped out by a pumped-up Japan team.
The blistering serves of Abdallah Ahmed helped take Egypt to the second technical break ahead by three at 16-13, as Mahmoud Elkoumy, Hamdy Awad and Shaarawy all scored in quick succession to remind Japan that they still had a match to win, despite leading 2-0.
The closing stages of the third set were full of furious exchanges as Egypt fought to stay alive, and an Abe block on Elkoumy had coach Ueta jumping in delight on the sidelines. Captain Awad came up with some crucial winners for Egypt down the stretch, but Japan missed one match point at 24-23 before Egypt won the third set 26-24 when Ogino spiked wide.
Shaarawy was beginning to dictate play at the net, and Japan replied through southpaw sub Ryuji Naohiro on the right and a full-blooded spike from Ishijima which crashed through the block and struck power server Ahmed on his right shoulder, knocking him down.
Egypt were certainly not down, though, and trailed by only one at the second TTO.
From 18-18, Egypt won four straight points to force a Japan TO. A gentle serve from Elkoumy was allowed to drop in for an easy point, and Egypt's blocking maintained the momentum.
Ishijima would not let go of the set, and some incredible defence and attack in the same rally, followed by a Naohiro spike from the right, took Japan to 23-22. Egypt, with Ahmed in confident form, hung on and even missed a set point at 24-23 before the left arm of Elnaeim produced a jackhammer spike down the middle to end it 26-24 for 2-2.
Japan held the edge in the tie-break, thanks largely to Saito, who punched another winner for Japan to turn round 8-6 ahead.
Two more Japan points, when an attempted block on Ishijima flew wide and when Elnaeim served into the net, made it 10-6, but Elkoumy sparked a fightback to 12-11 Japan and a home TO.
Yamamura brought up match point at 14-12, and a Saito block on Elnaeim ended it 15-12.
