Italian players congratulate each other after a point
Cuba
vs
Italy
1
-
3
Italy ruthlessly turned back a Cuban fightback to score a 3-1 victory in their second Pool F match of the FIVB Volleyball World Championship for Men in Hiroshima on Sunday.
The Italians won 25-20, 25-15, 23-25, 25-15 and can now boast a 4-1 record in Pool F ahead of their crucial clash against defending champions Brazil, also 4-1, on Tuesday.
Alberto Cisolla was in unstoppable form for Italy while Michael Sanchez was the only Cuban player who was able to penetrate the Italian blocks consistently.
Cuba drop to 0-5 in Pool F and are now in real danger of failing to qualify for the top six and a place in the positional play-offs.
Italy, meanwhile, are still very much in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals.
Cuba left spiker Daudinot Portuondo out of the starting line-up for the first time in the tournament, preferring Oreol Camejo instead.
Camejo and Pouto Corrales provided some telling blows in helping the Cubans take an 8-7 lead, with Cisolla firing in points for Italy.
Italy's right-sided spiker Alessandro Fei was unusually quiet in the early stages as Cisolla made most of the plays for Italy.
Italy gained a 16-15 advantage when Camejo netted a serve but the Cubans could have been pleased with themselves for restricting the Italians' attacking options.
Sanchez was becoming more influential for Cuba with his spike and ace bringing his team level at 19-19.
Fei then helped his side to a two-point advantage, which sent Cuba into a time-out. Cuba were back in time-out mode only two points later following errors by Dominico and Camejo as Italy surged ahead 23-19.
Camejo's error then gave Italy five set points, which Fei converted at the second attempt. Cisolla was the star of the first set, banging in seven spikes.
Cuba were in trouble early in the second set, with Sanchez their only real threat as Italy went 8-4 up.
Italy were experiencing little resistance at this stage, cruising to a 12-6 lead before Cuba went on a three-point burst through Sanchez and Yadier Sanchez.
However, Italy stormed to a 16-9 lead on Cisolla's delicate tip-over that floored half the Cuban team.
Fei was happy to play a supporting role to Cisolla as Italy opened up an eight-point gap at 20-12, with Cuban coach Roberto Garcia desperately looking for solutions.
But try as he might, Cuba were second best. Luigi Mastrangelo, so far quiet on the attacking front but brilliant in blocking, brought up 10 set points for Italy and Cisolla speared one down the middle to give his team a two-set lead.
Cuba showed more fight at the start of the third set, taking Italy to 7-7 before Camejo's erratic serve brought up the first TTO.
Sanchez, however, rose above his teammates to take Cuba 11-9 ahead before Coralles joined in the action as Italian coach Gianpaolo Montali brought in his troops for a rare time-out.
Cuba were a transformed team as they went 14-10 in front only for the Italians to lift a gear and power back to 15-15 on Cisolla's searing drive from the left.
However, the Cubans refused to fade away and took a 20-18 lead on Michal Lasko's successive errors from the right.
Odelvys Dominico's block made it 21-18 for Cuba but the Italians came right back yet again to level it at 21-21.
Yadier's deceptive serve gave Cuba two set points and Sanchez converted at the second attempt to put the revitalised Cuba back in the match.
Italy knew that the Cuba of the first two sets were now on a different plane as the Caribbeans began spreading their attacking options, though Sanchez was still their most lethal spiker with a game-leading 14 winners.
But the Europeans came out in even more determined fashion and were eager to slam shut the door on any Cuban comeback.
Fei's burner from the right took Italy 8-4 ahead after Cuba had already used up one of their time-outs.
Cuba then went on a three-point streak to trail 9-8 before Cisolla put a stop to their run with a couple of winners.
Cisolla was at the forefront, as always, in taking Italy 14-9 ahead and forcing Cuba into their final time-out.
As Italy took hold again, Cuba's fight appeared to have been drained away. Mastrangelo put the ball into open space to give Italy a hefty 16-10 second TTO lead.
Soon it was 20-12 to Italy as Cuba lost their way. A service error gave Italy 10 match points and, fittingly, it was Cisolla who powered home the winner to complete victory for Italy.
