Iran beats Australia 3-1 to reach Asian Championship final, secure World Championship berth
Tehran - BORNA - Roberto Piazza's squad overcame Australia with set scores of 25-21, 17-25, 25-17 and 25-22 in the semifinal played Saturday morning.
By reaching the final, Iran also clinched qualification for the World Championship.
The other semifinal between Japan and South Korea was scheduled for 2:00 PM, with the winner set to face Iran in Sunday's final.
Iran lineup: Morteza Sharifi, Isa Nasseri, Ali Hajipour, Pouria Hossein Khanzadeh, Mohammad Valizadeh, Arshia Behnejad, Mohammadreza Hazratpour.
Head coach: Roberto Piazza
Australia lineup: Lincoln Alexander Williams, James Weir, Lorenzo Pope, William Darcy, Nehimiya Mote, Arshdeep Dosanj, Luke Perry.
Head coach: Daniel Ilat
Match report
First set: Iran 25-21
The teams were level at 3-3 when Australia's Pope attacked down the pipe, sending the ball to the back of the court where Sharifi and Hazratpour converged to receive. The ball deflected off Sharifi's hand and went out, giving Australia the point. Khanzadeh then sent his serve long, and Australia moved ahead 7-4.
Nasseri brought Iran back with a quick spike through the hands of Weir and Pope for Iran's seventh point. Sharifi's serve then clipped the net and dropped into Australian territory to level the score at 9-9. After Iran took the 10th point, Sharifi's serve struck Darcy's hand and went out, putting Iran ahead 11-9. Sharifi then scored directly from serve to make it 12-9.
Hajipour's serve deflected off an Australian player's hand and returned to Iran's side, where Valizadeh reacted quickly at the net to put Iran ahead 16-11. Khanzadeh sent his serve out, and Mote scored against Sharifi's block to cut the deficit to 16-14, prompting Piazza to call a timeout. Dosanj opted for a placement instead of a set, but Iran held its lead at 23-21. Valizadeh scored directly from serve to seal the set 25-21 for Iran.
Second set: Australia 25-17
The set was closely contested until Pope's spike glanced off Iran's block and went out, giving Australia a 7-5 lead. With Australia ahead 9-7, Hajipour ran off the court to chase a ball and jumped into the stands to keep it in play, forcing a brief stoppage as he and a spectator received attention. Hajipour was applauded by his teammates and the crowd for his effort.
Nasseri received an Australian serve with a dig to set up Behnejad, but the return was too strong and went back over the net. An Australian player reacted quickly and put the ball away to make it 16-12. Piazza called an angry timeout in response. Iran's players repeatedly sent serves into the net and were blocked in the closing points as Australia took the set 25-17.
Third set: Iran 25-17
Nasseri opened the set with two consecutive blocks against Williams and Pope to give Iran the first two points. At 3-3, Hajipour attacked but was met by a solo block from Pope, and the rebound landed in the middle of Iran's court for an Australian point. Weir then sent his serve out, and Khanzadeh's serve struck Flowerday's hand and went out, putting Iran ahead 8-6. Khanzadeh, dominant from the service line, scored another service point to make it 10-6.
With Iran leading 17-12, Hazratpour set Khanzadeh, but three Australian players converged to block him. Australia scored another point, prompting Piazza to call a timeout. Returning to the court, Khanzadeh spiked through the Australian block for a point. He then served into the sideline of Australia's court, and although Smith dove to reach it, he could not keep it in play, putting Iran ahead 19-14. Hazratpour's reception was short, forcing Behnejad to set with his forearm, but Sharifi delivered a powerful spike that deflected off an Australian player and went out on Iran's side, keeping Iran ahead 23-17. Iran closed out the set 25-17.
Fourth set: Iran 25-22
Australia started stronger and took the lead. With Australia ahead 9-7, a rally developed and after several exchanges, Smith's spike was blocked but went out, giving Australia its 10th point. Iran leveled the score at 11-11. At 14-12, after another long rally, Khanzadeh scored with a spike for Iran, but Australia challenged the call and the point was awarded to Australia. Hajipour then beat Pope with a spike down the middle past Perry to put Iran ahead 17-15.
Sharifi attempted a placement, but Dosanj blocked him to level the score at 17-17. Valizadeh served into Pope's hands, and the Australian player's poor reception forced a teammate to dive for the ball, but he could not reach it, putting Iran ahead 20-17.
At 21-19, another rally unfolded, and after several exchanges, Hajipour delivered a powerful spike that landed in the middle of Australia's court between players, giving Iran its 22nd point. Williams sent his serve well out, making it 24-21. Khanzadeh sealed the match with a powerful spike for the 25th point as Iran won the set 25-22.
Iran will face the winner of Japan vs South Korea in Sunday's final.
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