In Pool D, Iran needed 130 minutes to pull off a 3-2 (21-25, 25-21, 25-19, 24-26, 25-23) win in a very exciting match through its strong frontline spikers.
Mojtaba Qiassi was the best scorer of the match team with 29 points, while libero Golmohammad Sakhavi was a key player for the triumph over the strong European team that also played superb.
Argentina gave a wonderful volleyball show winning defending champion Russia in a spectacular match 3-1 (27-25, 18-25, 25-21, 28-26) in Pool B. With this historic victory, the South American team secures a berth in the second round of the 2007 Boy's Youth World Championships in Mexico. It was the first triumph in history for the Argentine volleyball against a major power as Russia, fivb.org reported.
The reigning champions Russia could not stop the Argentine force as the boys of Juan Cichello needed 108 minutes to collect their second triumph in the tournament, after they beat USA in the opening day. The South Americans fought bravely with the good work of Facundo Conte that scored 22 points and Rodrigo Ronda with 12. Russia was still recovering from the surprising defeat against China on the first day and now they are almost edged of the option of defending their title.
In other action, India and Brazil also book spots in the second round, following victories over Belgium and Egypt, respectively, in the round play on Thursday, but with the surprising defeat of China against USA 0-3, now the situation concerning qualification to the next round is far from resolved in Pool C, because Russia and USA are still fighting for the tickets.
In a very interesting match in Tijuana Pool A, India defeated Belgium 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-21) in 97 minutes and secured a spot in the second round after their first victory over Tunisia by forfeit. India Singh Mandeep was the best scorer of the match with 30 points.
In Mexicali Pool B, Brazilian best scorer Mauricio Silva led his team to a very easy victory 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-23) over the African champions Egypt. The Brazilians penetrated the Egyptian defense as all the trials to defense from the opposite team failed. Brazil coach Antonio Lerba used some of their substitutes to give some rest to the main players.
In Pool C in Tijuana, the strong spirited team of the USA surprised China with a convincing 3-0 (28-26, 25-21, 25-21) in 75 minutes of skills and ambition, were Troy Murphy raised as the best scorer of his team with 13 points, and Chinese Chen Ping the best scorer of the match with 15.
In a thrilling match of the day in Pool B in Mexicali, Germany had an excellent performance with a exciting five-set victory over France 3-2 (25-15, 25-18, 16-25, 24-26, 15-13). French Earwin Ngapeth was the main scorer of the match with 28 points, while Jonas Unlauft made 20 for the German side.
In the last match of the day in Tijuana Pool A, Tunisian coach Hichem Ben Romdhane led his side to a 3-2 victory over host Mexico 25-23, 24-26, 25-23, 21-25, 15-11. The scorer was Jouini Chokri with 20 points while Mexican Juan Arriola scored 17. Puerto Rico completed the round line up in Pool D, when they defeated dramatically neighbor Cuba 3-2 (17-25, 20-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-13) in 120 minutes, in this all Norceca exciting match in Mexicali.
KK/KK
END
MNA