Takahiro Yamamoto and Masaji Ogino (JPN) celebrate
Japan
vs
Tunisia
3
-
2
Sendai, Japan, November 26, 2006: Japan produced a sensational comeback to beat Tunisia 3-2 in a dramatic Pool E encounter on Sunday evening.
Japan lost the first two sets 25-23, 25-23 but bounced back to take the next three 25-22, 25-23, 15-6 and improve their win-loss record to 4-1 in the second round. Tunisia dropped to 0-5.
In front of a frenzied crowd of 8,285, Japan were inspired by their 36-year-old captain Masaji Ogino and southpaw super ace Takahiro Yamamoto.
Tunisia made a confident start and were far from overawed by the occasion and the big crowd inside Sendai City Gymnasium.
Hosni Karamosly made his presence felt at the net, where Japan have been particularly strong with Nobuharu Saito and Kota Yamamura, and Noureddine Hfaiedh spiked accurately from the left to bring up the first TTO, 8-5.
Japan lacked the same fire and intensity as Tunisia, despite the occasional crashing winner from Yamamoto, and head coach Tatsuya Ueta took them off for a TO when they fell behind 12-7.
Aymen Ben Brik maintained the Africans' momentum and Japan were in trouble at the second technical break, trailing by six points and making too many errors on attack.
Ueta replaced the misfiring Shinya Chiba with veteran captain Masaji Ogino on the restart, and Ogino lifted his team with a thundering block on Japan's left flank.
Inspired by this play from his captain, Yusuke "Gottsu" Ishijima fired a glorious winner down the middle on the next point and Japan's deficit was down to three.
Hichem Kaabi highlighted the determination in the Tunisian camp with some crashing winners on the right to keep Japan at a safe distance, but they needed a TO when they began to stumble down the stretch.
Tunisia missed one set point before Ben Brik finished it 25-23.
Ogino was determined that Tunisia would have to play catch-up ball in the second set, not Japan, and he led from the front in true captain's style with his blocking and spiking.
They could not pull away, though, and some equally determined play from the athletic Hfaiedh on the left flank wiped out a three-point deficit and gave Tunisia the most slender of leads, 8-7, at the first TTO.
Yamamura and Saito got to work on the block, and Tunisia needed a TO down 15-13. Saito and Yamamura were also producing points on attack with their alert net play, but it was still anyone's set at 21-21. Yamamoto nudged Japan ahead 23-22 with a trademark winner from the right, only for lefty setter Ghazi Guidara to level things again with a quick strike at the net.
Tunisia had set point at 24-23, and Saito spiked cleanly but wide to give the Africans the second set 25-23.
Japan looked refreshed by the 10-minute entertainment break and led 5-1, 7-2 and 8-3 at the first TTO of the third set. A blistering serve from Ishijima put Tunisia on the back foot with their reception and a calm piece of play at the net from Ogino allowed Yamamura to time his run and spike beautifully through the scattered defence.
The Tunisian attack had lacked accuracy in the early stages of the set, but Karamosly showed his teammates the way with some confident, clean drives. Mohamed Trabelsi followed his lead with a block on Yamamura, and Kaabi spiked down the right flank after taking an Ogino piledriver in the face. Japan's gentleman captain signalled his concern to the stricken Kaabi, and the Tunisian showed he was fine with his spectacular riposte.
Japan had a three-point cushion at the second TTO, and when this gap expanded to five points, 18-13, Tunisia called a TO to try and break Japan's rhythm.
Karamosly continued to swat easy points to keep his team in touch, and a nervous Japan called a TO when Ogino fired wide down the left to reduce their advantage to 22-20.
Japan held on. Yamamoto brought up three set points at 24-21 and the same player wrapped up the third set 25-22 when another right-wing effort was blocked wide.
Tunisia refused to buckle under the pressure and came out fighting in the fourth. Ben Brik sounded an early warning to Japan with an effortless leap and sizzling spike, and Karamosly continued to compile points at the net.
A scorching serve from lefty Yamamoto cleared the way for Ishijima to pound a winner from the left, and when Yamamoto's next serve was too hot to handle, Japan led 11-10 and sent Tunisia into a TO.
Ogino blocked Walid Ben Abbes, signalling the end of the Tunisian player's contribution for the time being, and Japan lifted their game to lead 16-11 on some stinging Yamamoto spikes from the right and never-say-die defence which had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
When Yamamoto struck again for 21-17 to crank up the volume in the gymnasium even more, Tunisia were wobbling and took shelter from the storm with a TO. Down 23-19, Tunisia won the next three points to trail by one, before Yamamura brought up two set points for Japan at 24-22.
Kaabi saved the first with a trademark winner on the right, but Yamamoto made no mistake on the second attempt with a cool and clincial finish for 25-23 and 2-2.
Japan raced from the sideline to the middle of the court to signal their intentions in the tie-break, and a fired-up Ishijima produced a sizzling ace for 5-2 -- and celebrated with a sliding soccer-style belly flop across the court. Then Ogino leapt and sent a jackhammer spike over for 7-3, before Yamamoto blazed Japan ahead 8-3 at the turnaround.
The Tunisians were rocking at 10-3, before Skander Ben Tara struck at the net to halt the flow of Japanese points. At 13-5, Tunisia called their final desperate TO, but Japan returned to finish their incredible comeback 15-6.
