In a match marred by a high number of unforced errors Iran managed to beat Argentina 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 13-25 and 15-11) to earn its first victory of this year's FIVB World League.

With an exorbitant number of unforced errors (28 for Iran and 32 for Argentina) neither team was able to dominate the match for longer stretches.

 Iran's Mohammadjavad Manavinezhad was the match's brightest star having scored 18 points.

Without a victory in their first two matches of the season, Iran and Argentina were looking to break the unlucky streak. The Persian side started more effectively on the side-out and the Argentinians with a better performance in block and serving. The Iranians managed to maintain the advantage they had built early on, led by Shahram Mahmoudi and Mohammadjavad Manavinezhad, but in the end it was the nine errors committed by the South Americans which proved crucial in Iran’s first set victory, 25-22.

The second set started with the two teams battling for each point, long rallies and sequences of saves. Iran’s Milad Ebadipour scored an ace to put the Asians ahead by three points (10-7). Right after the second technical time-out Argentina came back and tied the score. The Persian service helped them to get four points ahead (22-18). An error in attack by Bruno Lima ended the second part with Iran winning by 25-20.Argentina needed to win the third set to keep their hopes alive. The South Americans got ahead on the board after Nicolas Bruno’s ace (6-5). Argentina extended their advantage to three point by the second technical time-out and opened it up to three points. With a block by Manavinezhad, Iran made things even again at 18-18. In the last part of the set Argentina took control of the game and ended it at 25 points to 21.

The fourth set started with an ace by Seyed Mohammad Mousavi but the Argentinians were in full throttle and opened 4-1. Sebastian Solé stopped Adel Gholami to put his team five points ahead (13-8). Two Iranian errors in attack gave Argentina a 19-12 lead. With a great performance of its defenders, Team Argentina managed to keep their advantage and win the set 25-13.Argentina opened the tiebreak leading 3-1 after two kill blocks in a row.  After a tense argument by the net, the referee showed both teams a red card, and Iran was quicker to recover taking an 8-5 lead. A block-out by Manavinezhad made it 12-9 for Iran. Another service error by Argentina, gave Iran the set 15-11 and the match, 3-2.

(Source: FIVB)