Alessandro Fei and Andrea Semenzato repel an Iran attack
Italy
vs
Iran
3
-
1
November 19, Nagano: Italy's rehabilitation in the World Championships continued with an occasionally nervy win over Iran.
The Italians were coasting as they took the first set, but a spirited comeback by Iran suddenly meant the Azzurri had a fight on their hands.
But the Europeans weathered the storm to come through 25-15, 21-25, 25-21, 25-19, improving their win-loss record to 2-1 and leaving Iran without a victory to their name.
A small but noisy group of Iranian fans gave their side a warm reception before the match, but the Italian players were less likely to be so generous.
That much was proved when Valerio Vermiglio, one of the smallest players in the Italian side, got up to claim an early block.
Libero Mirko Corsano was also in the mood, hurling himself to make a last-gasp save as the Iranians appealed that the ball had already touched the ground.
Behnam Mahmoudi left the referee in no doubt soon after, however, as he drove home a winner from the right flank.
Italy had established a lead despite the best efforts of Mahmoudi and Mohammed Mansouri, and a huge Alberto Cisolla smash took the Europeans further ahead at 12-8.
Alessandro Fei was also beginning to contribute to the Italian points tally, and skewed shots from Iran were helping their cause.
The Europeans had racked up a commanding 21-10 lead before Iran had even got started, and Andrea Semenzato added an ace for good measure.
Cisolla brought up set point, and finished the job himself a point later with an attack from the right.
With the points levelled for the start of the second set, Seyed Bazargard crashed over a spike on the right to kickstart Iran's challenge.
Setter Amir Hosseini was also busy, racing after the ball to play it over his head for the waiting Mansouri to gratefully accept.
But Italy looked like they enjoyed the cushion they had built up in the first set, and Matej Cernic went about almost single-handedly building a new one.
The number 18 first notched a couple of spikes, before landing an ace as Italy took an 8-4 lead into the first TTO.
But Iran persevered, putting together an impressive sequence to reduce the deficit by just one point at 10-9.
Mohammad Mohammadkazan then brought the teams level at 12-12 with an ace of his own, as Iranian confidence began to build.
Iran took the lead after Hosseini again scrambled the ball back to the middle, where Alireza Nadi got up to block for a 15-14 advantage.
Italy began to channel everything out to Fei on the right, but Iran were holding firm.
Another Mohammadkazan ace took the Asians closer at 22-20, before captain Peyman Akbari, and Mohammadkazan with yet another ace, gave Iran set point.
Mansouri rose at the net to fire the ball home and bring Iran roaring back into the match.
The Italians looked like the shock had jolted them into action as they built a 6-2 lead at the start of the third set.
But Nadi showed them there was more to come from Iran, levelling the scores at 6-6.
Cisolla was playing his part as Italy regained control, however, and Cernic wasn't finished either.
Soon the Italians had reached the second TTO 16-11 up, and a Luigi Mastrangelo ace on their return eased them further ahead.
An Iranian spike then ricocheted off libero Corsano's shoulder before returning over the net, and if Italy's luck was in, Fei didn't need any help to bring up set point.
Iran defended well as the Italians looked to finish the job, but eventually they succumbed as Cernic cracked another one over.
A Vermiglio ace took Italy into the first TTO of the fourth set 8-6 ahead, and a Fei block soon after made sure they stayed in front.
Iran tagged along behind them as the set progressed, but with Mastrangelo beginning to dominate the net, the Asians were finding it difficult to do anything more.
A great pawed return on the run from Cisolla allowed Fei to score another block, and soon the Italians had reached the 20-point mark five ahead of their rivals.
Match point was inevitable, and when it came, Cristian Savani banished the memory of Iran's second set comeback as Italy scored their second consecutive win of the competition.
