In a tough match at the 12,000-seat hall of Tehran’s Azadi Sports Complex on Firday evening, the Iranian squad managed to overcome Serbia 3-2 (16-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-23, 16-14) with Seyed Mohammad Mousavi offering an impressive performance.
The match brought Serbia their first loss at this year’s World League and while they got the upper hand in the first two sets, it was Iran who outpowered the southern European opponent for the rest of the match.
Iran began the encounter with Shahram MAhmoudi, Saeid Marouf, Milad Ebadipour, Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, Adel Gholami, Mohammad Javad Manavinejad as well as Mahdi Marandi who made repeated mistakes in the first set to give Serbia an 8-5 lead by the first time-out. Later, Iran became entangled in power serves of Aleksandar Atanasijevic and lost by 18-25.
Serbia’s good performance continued in the second set though Lozano tried to change the result with some substitutions. Even Mobasheri’s arrival did not help as Serbia had the lead at the first technical time-out. Despite the 20-20 tie, it was Serbia who won the set 25-22.
Despite Iranian players’ great effort in the third set, Serbia maintained the power until the first technical time-out. However, Mousavi, Mirzajanpour and Marouf brought hope back to the home team and substitutions made by Serbia did not work so well as Iran closed the set at 25-22.
In the fourth set Iran led by 8-7 and points were exchanged towards the 16-15 at the second technical time-out. Serbia managed to level the score as the set went on point for point. Serbia called a time-out when they were 20-22 down, but they became disappointed again as Iran closed the set at 25-23.
National volleyball team of Iran began the final set with improved confidence gaining the first points though Serbia took the lead by 8-6. Later on, it was Iran who gained the upper hand for 11-9 forcing Serbia’s Gabic to call for a time-out. The European rival equalized at the score of 12 and even took the lead at 13-12. The match was leveled again at 14 though it ended 16-14 in favor of Iran.
Iran’s Mousavi gained 8 blocking points while Marko Ivovic was the best scorer with 19 points for Serbia.
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