The much-hopeful Japan would prove a threat to Iran after it had secured a win against Raul Lucio Lozano’s men in the second set; however, this was Iran that recovered after a slump into individual faults to claim third and fourth sets and the whole match. This was Iran’s third win in four matches.
Tokyo Metropolitan was the match venue when on 14:45 Tehran’s time, Iran and Japan met during Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifications. First and second set was quite uneventful and both sides secured a set to make equal. In the third set, Japan, supported by its boisterous and cheerful fans, was aloft and hopeful to hit a win, and did score preliminary points soon, when they went to first technical timeout 8-7 ahead of Iran.
Both teams scored in parallel after Japan was again ahead 10-8, with Iran turning the tide and the score table as well: 12-10. Iran’s defense line performed well with Adel Gholami and Milad Ebadipour securing points after points to go to second technical timeout 16-12. Iran went on to get points to improve the difference to 6 points when individual errors made the gap closer. Japan worked hard to catch Iran, however was two points behind Iran when Lozano requested a timeout to return to match reinvigorated for the final points. Iran again win this time 25-22.
The fourth match was crucial when Japan could continue the fight into a fifth match should it win the fourth. The first technical time out saw Iran ahead 8-7; with scores equal at 10, Lozano send Hamzeh Zarini in. however, the measure proved fruitless and Japanese was ahead of Iran 16-15. Japan secured a 20-17 score with Iran committing subsequent faults, which forced Lozano for a timeout, after which Iran succeeded to take Japan in score 22. The situation was tense again when the score table showed 24-24. Lozano this time sent Farhad Ghaemi in. Japan’s success in scoring would continue the match for long; however, they failed to receive Ghaemi’s service and Iran scored finally 27 against Japan’s 25.
Iran will play China, who had lost to Poland only in fifth set after heroic performance in winning two sets against world champions.
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