Iran suffers 3-1 loss against Brazil at 2017 FIVB Volleyball World League

The national Iranian men’s volleyball team has conceded a bitter defeat against South American powerhouse and champion of the men's volleyball tournament at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the 2017 Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) World League.

On Saturday evening, the Iranian outfit slumped to the Brazilian squad 1-3 (25-21, 19-25, 22-25 and 22-25) at the end of a Pool A1 - Group 1 match at the Adriatic Arena in Pesaro city, on the eastern side of central Italy.

The Iranian team started the game with whim and vigor, and took an early 5-2 lead over Brazilians.

The South Americans, however, managed to reduce the margin and led 8-7 at the first technical time out.

The Iranians regained the lead later on and were 17-15 in front at the second technical time out.

The Iranian squad built up momentum after the restart, and widened the deficit to finally conquer the first set at 25-21.

Iranian players imposed the pace again in the second set, and led 4-1.

Their Brazilian counterparts nevertheless reclaimed the lead with a three points break, and were 16-14 ahead at the second technical time out.

Brazil then powered past to accumulate points, and claimed the set 25-19.

The third set started tight as both teams were willing to get it at all costs.
Brazil led 8-6 at the first technical time out.

Iran soon tied at 10-10, before Brazil gained a 16-14 lead at the second technical timeout. 

The Brazilian team with a killer spike signed by 35-year-old Evandro Motta Guerra won the third set 25-22.

Brazil was at the top form in the final set, and took the lead with 4 points break to lead 4-0.

In the 101st minute, Brazil was still ahead, but Iran could shorten the margin to 3-6.

The South Americans enlarged the advantage with fantastic and unstoppable Ricardo Lucarelli Souza later on, and led 16-11 at the second technical time out.

Iran managed to tie up at 20-20 in the 121st minute, before Brazil availed itself of the last remaining opportunities and won the match 25-22 with Lucarelli’s perfect spike.

 “We started the match with a lot of energy. Maybe we have put too much effort at the start. Starting from the second set, we managed to balance the rhythm. Iran played very well anyway. We hope to get better and to improve ourselves step by step. Tomorrow against Italy it will be hard. They are playing quite well, but we believe in ourselves,” Brazil’s head coach Renan Dal Zotto said after the match.

“It was a balanced game from the beginning through to the end. All the sets were played point for point. In the last set, Brazil was always in the lead, but we never gave up and fought for every point. Tomorrow, against Poland, it is going to be another difficult match for us. Today we played against the Olympic champions, yesterday - against the Olympic vice champions, and tomorrow - against the world champions... I will be happy if we are on the same level as today,” Iran’s head coach Igor Kolakovic commented.

The national Iranian men’s volleyball team is scheduled to take on Poland in Pesaro, Italy on Sunday evening.

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