Saitama, Japan, November 21, 2006: Japan booked a place in the second round of the World Championships by beating Argentina 3-1 in Pool A at Saitama Super Arena on Tuesday evening.
In front of over 11,000 screaming fans, Japan won 25-16, 22-25, 27-25, 27-25 to improve their win-loss record to 3-1 and leave Argentina at 1-3 with just one game to go in the first round.
Japan made a blistering start, forcing a shell-shocked Argentina to call a TO after losing the first four points.
Crowd favourite Yu Koshikawa got the joint jumping on the opening point with a thundering spike down the middle, and then served two aces either side of a Takahiro Yamamoto winner on the right.
When the teams returned, Koshikawa promptly served his third ace of the match to give Japan a 5-0 lead, before serving into the net to present Argentina with their first point.
Kota Yamamura maintained Japan's frenzied pace with a couple of points at the net to take his team to the first TTO ahead 8-3, and Koshikawa continued to score freely in open play as Japan raced on 12-5, at which point Jon Uriarte called his second TO.
Marcos Milinkovic relieved the pressure with some elegant winners of his own down the right side, but southpaw Yamamoto was in determined mood, too, and Japan led by nine, 16-7, at the second technical break.
Gustavo Porporatto and Alejandro Spajic lifted Argentina's spirits with some quick points at the net and some thundering blocks on Yamamoto and Koshikawa, but Japan were in the clear and closed out the first set 25-16.
In the seond set, Milinkovic drove his team forward, notably with a crunching block on Koshikawa. The visitors led 8-5 at the first TTO as Yamamoto lost his range with his serve and attack.
Argentina's block was now in top form, and Japan replaced Koshikawa with captain Masaji Ogino when they fell behind 9-5. Jeronimo Bidegain had made a big difference to the Argentine defence, and his team looked ready for the challenge after their first-set blow-out. Gaston Giani responded to the call, and cleaned out the Japanese defence with another fine winner from the left which helped the South Americans reach the second TTO ahead by four at 16-12 and firmly back in the match.
Japan drew level at 17-17 following a Saito winner at the net and a swat from Porporatto that drifted long, but when Yamamoto fired into the net to move Argentina in front 20-18, Japan called a TO.
Spajic scored at the net, Luciano De Cecco blocked Yusuke Ishijima and earned a big hug from Milinkovic, Giani brought up set point at 24-21, and Porporatto completed the job 25-22 for 1-1.
Milinkovic, furious at a decision that went against his team early in the third set, was called to the referee's chair for his reaction to a couple of winning points shorlty after, as the tension and pressure increased.
Argentina's block was forcing Japan's spikers into mistakes, and, down 10-7, Japan replaced Koshikawa again, this time with Shinya Chiba. When Ishijima fired tamely into the net, Argentina were in command at 12-8 and Japan retreated for a TO.
Chiba's fast and accurate serves dragged Japan back, and an Ishijima blockbuster highlighted a four-point surge to 12-12.
Spajic's gentle serving caused problems in Japan's reception and consequently some hurried attacks, and coach Tatsuya Ueta needed a TO with his team in trouble at 21-19.
Argentina missed three set points at the end of the third set before a Milinkovic spike was called out on Japan's first set point at 26-25 to give Japan the frame 27-25 for 2-1. Milinkovic was not amused, appealing desperately but in vain to the chair referee as Japan coach Ueta calmly pointed to the line judge with his flag raised in the far corner.
In the fourth set, Argentina made too many errors on attack, enabling Japan to go into the first TTO ahead 8-6 and being driven on by the inspirational Ishijima, who was playing like a man possessed.
Porporatto and Saito traded spikes at the net before Argentina scored the next point at 15-15 to give them the most slender of advantages going into the second TTO.
As the excitement intensified, Spajic stunned Saito with another tremendous block for 19-16 Argentina, but Saito responded with his own block on Milinkovic which spun just inside the Argentine side line to reduce Japan's deficit to one at 19-18.
Argentina missed two set points before Japan won it on their first match point 27-25 when Spajic fired wide.
