Rasoul powers Iran into top eight at Men's U21 World Championship; five more teams advance too

Russia were the first Pool B team to advance in the competition after mastering their second victory in Brno. On Sunday, Turkey will face Cuba in a direct clash for the other spot from the pool, while USA are already sure to make the trip to Ceske Budejovice, where the distribution of the places from 9th to 16th will take place. 

With a great performance from Anton Semyshev and Dmitry Yakovlev on Saturday, Russia cruised to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-18) victory over Turkey. Semyshev and Yakovlev contributed 17 and 16 points, respectively, with the latter shining with five kill blocks.

Earlier in the day, Osniel Lazaro Melgarejo had a great all-round performance in the match between Cuba and USA. He drove his Caribbean teammates to their first Pool B win in Brno – a 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-20) shutout of their NORCECA rival.

 

The two teams from Pool C that will travel to Brno for the next stage of the championship have also become known on Saturday. Iran and Argentina claimed their second victories in Ceske Budejovice and will leave Ukraine and Italy behind in contention for the ninth place.

In a thrilling match, filled with drama, Iran celebrated victorious as Rasoul Aghchehli contributed a fantastic 28 points towards a 3-2 (25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 15-13) close against Ukraine.

Jan Martinez Franchi was once again the best scorer for Argentina, as the South Americans managed a 3-1 (32-30, 25-19, 14-25, 25-21) win against Italy. Martinez was responsible for 21 of his team’s points.

 

In the second-day clash between the two winners from the first day, Brazil shut out China to cement themselves among the best two teams in Pool D. After Japan managed a four-set victory over Egypt, all three teams are still in contention for the other spot with Japan facing Brazil and Egypt encountering China on Sunday. 

Victor Cardoso, with 21 points, was the leading scorer for Brazil’s 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-16) victory over China, booking the South American team’s ticket to Brno.

In the earlier match, Japan gained their first win at the World Championship - 3-1 (25-17, 17-25, 28-26, 25-23) against Egypt, to stay in contention. Kenyu Nakamoto was the best scorer of the match with 20 points for the winning side, but it was sub-in Kenta Takanashi, whose performance tilted the balance in favour of Japan.

 

23 - Kento Miyaura of Japan v China on June 23

28 - Rasoul Aghchehli of Iran v Ukraine on June 24

28 - Rasoul Aghchehli of Iran v Ukraine on June 24

27 - Tymofii Poluian of Ukraine v Iran on June 24

23 - Kento Miyaura of Japan v China on June 23

22 - Oleh Plotnytskyi of Ukraine v Iran on June 24

21 - Victor Aleksander Almeida Cardoso of Brazil v China on June 24

21 - Jan Martinez Franchi of Argentina v Italy on June 24

21 - Donovan Dzavoronok of Czech Republic v Canada on June 23

4 - Oleh Plotnytskyi of Ukraine v Iran on June 24

4 - Kristian Cervinka of Czech Republic v Canada on June 23

4 - Miguel Angel Lopez Castro of Cuba v Russia on June 23

3 - Felipe Moreira Roque of Brazil v China on June 24

3 - Bartosz Kwolek of Pland v Czech Republic on June 24

3 - Kenyu Nakamoto of Japan v Egypt on June 24

3 - Omar Aly of Egypt v Japan on June 24

3 - Osniel Lazaro Melgarejo Hernandez of Cuba v USA on June 24

3 - Amirhossein Esfandiar of Iran v Ukraine on June 24

3 - Anton Semyshev of Russia v Cuba on June 23

3 - Bartosz Kwolek of Poland v Morocco on June 23

10 - Czech Republic v Canada on June 23

9 - Japan v Egypt on June 24

8 - Brazil v China on June 24

7 - Cuba v USA on June 24

7 - Ukraine v Iran on June 24

7 - Canada v Czech Republic on June 23

7 - Japan v China on June 23

7 - Russia v Cuba on June 23

7 - Cuba v Russia on June 23

7 - Argentina v Ukraine on June 23

6 - Mohamed Aly of Egypt v Japan on June 24

6 - Fynnian Lionel Mccarthy of Canada v Czech Republic on June 23

5 - Dmitry Yakovlev of Russia v Turkey on June 24

5 - Adis Lagumdzija of Turkey v Russia on June 24

5 - Aleksei Kononov of Russia v Cuba on June 23

18 - Egypt v Japan on June 24

14 - Canada v Czech Republic on June 23

13 - Ukraine v Iran on June 24

12 - Iran v Ukraine on June 24

12 - China v Japan on June 23

32-30 - Argentina v Italy on June 24

32-30 - Russia v Cuba on June 23

30-28 - Turkey v USA on June 23

29-27 - Poland v Czech Republic on June 24

26-28 - Egypt v Japan on June 24

211 - Iran v Ukraine 3-2 (25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 15-13) on June 24

203 - Czech Republic v Canada 2-3 (22-25, 25-13, 25-23, 18-25, 12-15) on June 23

191 - Argentina v Italy 3-1 (32-30, 25-19, 14-25, 25-21) on June 24

186 - Egypt v Japan 1-3 (17-25, 25-17, 26-28, 23-25) on June 24

182 - China v Japan 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-16) on June 23