November 27, Hiroshima: Bulgaria took a giant step towards the semi-finals with a dogged victory over Germany.
The Bulgarians continued their unbeaten run with the 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 25- win, despite a spirited performance from a German team looking to bounce back from the previous night's loss to Italy.
Bulgaria can now turn their attention towards qualification rivals France and Brazil, knowing just one more victory will clinch their place in the final four. Germany are now out of the semi-final reckoning, but are still in a strong position to make the final classification round in Tokyo.
Vladimir Nikolov gave the German defence an early taste of what they could expect when he popped up on the right, then the left, to notch points for Bulgaria.
Setter Andrey Zhekov also showed his skills in the opening exchanges, stretching to stop the ball from crossing the net before teammate Evgeni Ivanov could slam it home from a better position.
But German had settled into an early rhythm, with Christian Pampel launching attacks and Bjorn Andrae landing an ace.
A Ralph Bergmann block put Germany into the first TTO 8-5 ahead, and his teammates wasted no time in extending the lead to 12-6.
Matey Kaziyski and Nikolov then set about trying to reduce the deficit, and with Germany calling a time-out with just one point in it at 15-14, their efforts were obviously concerning German coach Stelian Moculescu.
Sure enough Bulgaria drew level, but Germany were not prepared to give them any more.
Pampel blasted over an ace to restore Germany's lead, before Andrae edged his side closer at 21-19. But Bulgaria were nothing if not persistant, and solid blocking from Krasimir Gaydarski and Todor Aleksiev helped them overturn the German lead and snatch the chance to take the set at 24-22.
Aleksiev did not need to be asked twice, ramming the ball down when he found space at the net. Bulgaria were determined not to fall behind again so early in the second set, and built a 5-1 lead to prevent it from happening. Bergmann tried to get Germany back on level terms with a huge leap at the net, but a Gaydarski ace soon after underlined the good start Bulgaria had made.
But Robert Kromm added an ace of his own for Germany to take the score to 13-10, and Stefan Hubner pummelled a drive into Bulgarian territory to pull back another point. One Kromm ace later, and Germany had tied the set at 13-13. The Germans seized the initiative to lead into the second TTO at 16-14, and power play from Andrae and Kromm kept them in front after the restart.
Pampel charging in on the left took Germany 20-16 ahead, and now Bulgaria would have to come from behind again if they wanted to take something from the set.
That is exactly what they had in mind as they came back to 20-20, but Germany had the bit between their teeth. Kromm was relentless as he took his side to set point, and Norbert Walter struck at the net to put the matter to rest. The bullets continued to fly into the third set, with Kaziyski and Nikolov attempting to hit straight back for the Bulgarians.
But a Simon Tischer block showed Germany's determination to keep the upper hand, and it was the Germans who led into the first TTO at 8-6.
The lead did not last long, however, as the Kaziyski scoring arm began firing with ruthless efficiency. Pampel scrambled some points back for Germany, but the Bulgarian number 6 had given his side a comfortable cushion in front. The Germans were getting closer, however, and it took more points from Kaziyski to re-establish the advantage as the end of the set drew closer.
Nikolov raced in from the right to apply the killer touch. Germany's Stefan Hubner led his side's charge as the fourth set got underway, claiming a block for an 8-6 first TTO lead.
But a Nikolov ace helped Bulgaria hit straight back, and Kaziyski thundered through the centre to increase his side's lead to 11-8. Nikolov's serve had found its groove as he arrowed in more winners, and at 16-12 Bulgaria had their eyes on the finish line.
A wild German spike soon brought match point, and Todor Aleksiev seized the chance to claim the winner and send his team one step closer to Tokyo.
