The Netherlands qualified to the World League. Iran on the next round
The Netherland defeated Portugal after two thrilling tie-breaks and gained a promotion to the World League 2013. Iran is closed to exceed the World League’s door after overcoming Egypt in Cairo. Julio Velasco’s players need to beat Japan in the decisive phase.
Netherlands 3 – 2 Portugal (26-24, 25-23, 24-26, 22-25, 20-18)
Netherlands: N. Abdel-Aziz 6, J. Maan 16, H. Krolis 23, B. van Bemmelen 14, J. Rauwerdink 11, W. Kooistra 12, G. Jorna (L) and R. Bontje, T. The Horst, N. Freriks
Portugal: T. Violas 3, A. Ferreira 13, J. Jose 18, V. Sequeira 21, R. Santos 11, A. Lopes 13, I. Casas (L) and M. Gil, M. Ferreira, M. Rodrigues, J. Coelho
The 3-2 win – the first time the two countries have played a match over five sets and the Netherlands’ second in succession after their five-set win against the Dominican Republic last Sunday – gives the hosts a small advantage going into Sunday’s second qualification match where the winner of the double header and a place in the World League 2013 will be determined by points, then by number of wins, then by set ratio and then points ratio.
Portugal’s Valdir Sequeira top scored with 24 points however like the Netherlands’ last match against the Dominican Republic Humphrey Krolis was the best scorer for the home side with 23. A Portuguese star, Joao Jose, came back to his national team and he immediately could impressed. The player of VFB Friedrichshafen scored 18 points (7 in block).
Netherlands 3 – 2 Portugal (20-25, 25-23, 17-25, 25-21, 15-13)
Netherlands: N. Abdel-Aziz 6, J. Maan 14, H. Krolis 18, B. van Bemmelen 3, J. Rauwerding 17, W. Kooistra 12 , G. Jorna (L) and R. Bontje 7, N. Freriks
Portugal: T. Violas 2, A. Ferreira 19, J. Jose 16, V. Sequeira 23, R. Santos 8, A. Lopes 7, I. Casas (L) and M. Ferreira, M. Rodrigues, J. Coelho
The Netherlands beat Portugal, ranked 38th in the world, in the second match of their World League 2013 qualification playoff 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 17-25, 25-21, 15-13) in Rotterdam on Sunday. Following Saturday’s incredible 3-2 win on Saturday, the Netherlands replace Portugal in the World League to return to the FIVB’s premier annual men’s tournament after an absence of two years.
It was a superb team effort from the home side with four players reaching double figures led, like the last two matches, by Humphrey Krolis on 18 points. Like Saturday’s match, Valdir Sequeira top scored for Portugal and the match with 23 points.
Egypt 0 – 3 Iran (31-33, 22–25, 19-25)
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Egypt: A. Abdalla 2, A. Abdelhay 5, A. AbdelLatif 10, R. Atia10, A. Afifi 6, M. Badawy 11, W. Alaydy (L) and M. Issa 4, R. Haikal 6, Y. Saleh
Iran: S Mahmoudi 17, M. S Marouflakrani 1, F. Ghaemi 11, S. M Mousavi 5, H. Zarini 11, A. Nadi 9, F. Zarif (L) and M. Mahdavi, A. Keshavarzi 2
The straight sets win puts Iran in pole position to advance to the second round of the playoffs just needing to win one set in Sunday’s second match to confirm a date with Japan. It also carries on from an impressive 3-0 win during last year’s World Cup and stretches Iran’s overall record against Egypt to 3-1 having suffered their only defeat at the 2010 World Championships.
With both teams featuring only minor changes since their last match in Japan last year, Shahram Mahmoudi, who was one not to play in the World Cup encounter, top scored for Iran with 17 points while Mohamed Badawy was the best scorer for Egypt with 11.
Egypt 1 – 3 Iran (12-25, 30-28, 17-25, 22-25)
Egypt: A. Abdelhay 1, A. AbdellLatif 5, A. Abouelhassan 1, R. Atia 8, M. Badawy 16, M. Issa, M. Moawad (L) and Y. Saleh 7, A. Abdalla 4, R. Haikal 15, A. Afif, M. Ketat
Iran: S. Mahmoudi 18, M.I Marouflakrani 2, F. Ghaemi 1, M. Mousavi 9, H. Zarini 9, A. Nadi 8, F. Zarif (L) M Mirzajanpour 6, M. Mahdavi, A. Keshavarzi 9
Iran beat Egypt 3-1 (25-12, 28-30, 25-17, 25-22) on Sunday to record second win in as many matches against the hosts to confirm their place in the second round of the FIVB World League 2103 qualification process where they will play Japan.
After Friday’s impressive 3-0 win, Iran only needed to win a set to guarantee themselves a spot in the second round against Japan where the winner will play in the World League 2013. And Iran did it impressively, comfortably winning the first set, before wrapping up the match in four.
Like the first match, Shahram Mahmoudi led all scorers with 19 points – and comfortably leading Iran’s scoring as the only player in double figures – while Mohamed Badwy also repeated his great scoring from Friday, topping Egypt’s best with 16 points while Reda Haikal added 15.