Iranian volleyballers edge past Poland in 2017 FIVB World League
The national Iranian men’s volleyball team has upset world champion Poland to achieve its first victory at the 2017 Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) World League.
On Sunday evening, the Iranian squad defeated the Biało-Czerwoni Orzeł 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-23 and 25-22) 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 Poles served for the first point and Michał Kubiak earned the opening score for his team. The Eastern Europeans continued to impose the pace and led 11-7 later on.
The Persians then sprang into action and reduced the gap to 9-12. The Polish outfit did not capitulate and Kubiak dragged his teammates to the second technical time out 16-10.
Iran did not manage to find its rhythm in this first set, and Poland easily got the first set 25-18.
The second set started tightly and it was a point to point battle to the first technical time out, where Iran finally took the lead at 8-7.
Iran, helped by the great support of its passionate fans, could surge ahead and claimed the set 25-23 at last.
The Iranian volleyball players kept the momentum as the match extended into the third set. The Persians did not show any intention to let it go, and Amir Ghafour’s light speed spike delivered the set to Iran 25-23.
Iran was fearless in the fourth set, and continued with the killer points signed by Milad Ebadipour and Mohammad Javad Ma’navinejad.
Poland was unable to assume control of the match. Iran took the set 25-22 at last and clinched the match.
“I am very proud of my team. We grow every day through constant trainings, and I am very proud of my players and of the team spirit they were able to show tonight. They faced (Saeed) Marouf’s injury well and they showed a good reaction in difficult situations,” Iran’s head coach Igor Kolakovic said after the match.
“This victory is so important for us to build up our self-confidence! The teamwork allowed us to win this match, because we were able to help each other on the court. We were able to reopen the match and I am very satisfied,” Iranian player Ghafour said.
“Iran played with a lot of motivation. We started with intensity but then we started to struggle facing their attacks. We need to learn a lesson tonight because this is a sign that we need to have a more mature approach towards matches,” Poland’s head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi commented.
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