November 17, Nagano: Bulgaria came from behind to batter Italy into submission in Pool C.
The Italians took the first set of a bruising heavyweight European encounter, but Bulgaria came storming back to win the next two as the momentum of the match shifted sides.
The Azzurri regained their composure to force the match into a tiebreak set, but the eastern Europeans eventually held their nerve to triumph 20-25, 26-24, 25-16, 16-25, 15-8.
Both sides traded heavy blows in the early stages as they looked to gain a foothold.
But it was the Italians that took the advantage, as Luigi Mastrangelo imposed himself on the match with his spiking prowess.
Bulgaria's Hristo Tsvetanov was also fired up for the occasion, but he could not stop Italy from heading into the second TTO with their noses in front.
Paolo Cozzi increased the Italians' lead, before Samuele Papi fired a shot off a Bulgarian arm and out to take the score to 22-19.
Alberto Cisolla then planted a massive spike down the centre of the court to give Italy set point at 24-20, and Alessandro Fei blocked to draw first blood for the Azzurri.
Tsvetanov helped Bulgaria to a narrow 8-6 advantage at the start of the second set, rising for a towering block before showing the other side of his game with a lethal spike.
Captain Plamen Konstantinov and Vladimir Nikolov were also involved, but Italy made sure they kept themselves just one step behind.
Fei was finding success at the net, and a Cisolla ace brought the Italians level at 13-13.
Italy could sense the momentum was with them, and after Fei had added another spike that knocked the Bulgarian defender off his feet, Cozzi got up for a block to take the Italians into the second TTO 16-14 ahead.
But Nikolov was making a nuisance of himself on the left flank, and his points made sure Bulgaria didn't run out of steam.
A series of services errors for both teams then set nerves jangling, and it was Bulgaria that came out with the chance of taking the set at 24-23 after an Evgeni Ivanov block.
Papi saved the point for the Italians, but Nikolov gave his team another chance.
Cozzi spiked out, and Bulgaria were level.
A Matey Kaziyski ace helped Bulgaria to open up a 5-2 lead at the start of the third set, and not even a nice piece of control from Mastrangelo's foot could prevent Italy going further behind.
Matej Cernic came on to salvage a few points for the Italians, but his teammates could only parry a Krasimir Gaydarski smash as Bulgaria headed into the second TTO at 16-10.
Kaziyski unleashed another missile on the left, before Mastrangelo served into the net as the Bulgarians reached 20 points.
What had begun well for the Italians was beginning to fall apart.
A Konstantinov cross-court smash gave Bulgaria set point, and Boyan Yordanov crashed over another to take Bulgaria into the fourth set ahead.
Two successive hammer aces by Fei helped get Italy back on track after the restart, and Cisolla flying down the left underlined the point.
Papi then fired in a smash as the Italians stretched their lead to 15-8, and suddenly it was Bulgaria who were under the kosh.
Fei and Cisolla made sure the attacks kept coming from all directions, and Bulgaria coach Martin Stoev had no choice but to call a time-out with his side trailing 20-12.
But the Italians had the bit between their teeth, and soon had set point from another Fei bullet.
Once the ball was back in play, Fei simply reloaded and drew Italy level at two sets apiece.
Kaziyski threw it straight back at the Italians at the start of the tie-break, as Bulgaria took a quick 4-1 lead.
Nikolov increased the advantage to 6-2, his team celebrating every point knowing they were getting ever closer to victory.
An Italian shot into the net took the score to 10-4, and not even heroic defending by Italian libero Mirko Corsano could not prevent the inevitability of match point.
Kaziyski ricocheted the shot off an Italian defender, and the match was Bulgaria's.
